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JACK   RACER 

By 
HENRY   SOMERVhLLE 


Decorations  by   ANNE    GOLDTHWAITE 


McCLURE,   PHILLIPS  b*  CO. 

NEW    YORK 

M  C  M  I 


Copyright,   igoi 
By   McClure,  Phillips  and  Company 


UNIVERSITY     PRESS     •    JOHN    WILSON 
AND    SON      •       CAMBRIDGE,    U.  S.  A. 


MY    FATHER    &    MOTHER 


iviG04G96 


CONTENTS 

Chapter  Page 
I.    Jack's    Curious    Interest    in   the    Camp- 
bell Household 3 

II.    Social  Events  are  Shaped  in  Sam  Lime- 

cooly's  Store 13 

III.  On  the  Road  to  Camp-Meeting  ...        25 

IV.  Wherein  Pekin  is  Seen  Uniting  Religion 

and  Festivity 41 

V.    A  Flirtation  is  Industriously  Fanned      .  71 
VI.    Mr.      Racer's     Kindly    Relations    with 

Several    Ladies    Become   Apparent    .  83 
VII.    A  Thrilling  Catastrophe  Breaks  Down  97 
VIII.    The   Campbell   Family's  Views  of  Cur- 
rent  Events 113 

IX.    Lucy  and  Aunt  Kiz  Get  Acquainted    .  125 
X.    A    Fire    Gives    Opportunity   for    More 

than   Heroism 139 


viii  .    CONTENTS 

Chapter  Page 

XI.    And  Leaves  Jack  Racer  Unaccountably 

Capricious 157 

XII.     Aunt   Kiz   Invites  Him   In  and  Then 

Invites   Him   Out 169 

XIII.  The    Professor    and    the    Cantata     of 

Esther 187 

XIV.  Mrs.    George  is    More  Biddable  than 

She   Knows ion 

XV.    The   Cantata    Proves    the    Mother   of 

Discord 211 

XVI.     A    Situation    More    Perilous    than    it 

Seems 229 

XVII.     The   Squire   Plans  a  Campaign   and  a 

Career 245 

XVIII.     Pekin  Ladies  Awake  to  an  Interest  in 

Politics 265 

XIX.    Jack  Racer  Wins  the  Nomination        .      277 
XX.     But  the  Barbecue  Makes  Him  Happier 

Still 299 

XXI.    It  is  Again  Evidenced  that  Pride  Goes 

Before  a  Fall 325 

XXII.     The  Squire  is  Awakened  to  the  Hour's 

Perils 345 

XXIII.     Curious  Social  Attentions  Follow  Un- 

popidarity     .  361 


CONTENTS  ix 

Chapter  Page 
XXIV.    The  Campbell  Family  "Stands  By" 

Nobly 383 

XXV.  Important  News  Comes  Too  Late  .  401 
XXVI.    Pekin    Changes    its    Mind   and    Lucy 

Discloses  Hers 415 


^ 


^ 


CHAPTER      ONE 


JACK    RACER 


Jack's  Curious  Interest  in  the  Campbell 
Household 

EKIN  had  pronounced  views  on 
some  subjects.  These  were  not 
many,  but  they  were  held  with 
great  intensity,  and  all  had  ref- 
erence to  what  in  some  circles  is 
called  the  conduct  of  life. 
There  was  rarely  more  than  one  of  these 
prominent.  They  were  taken  up  seriatim^  as 
the  public  speakers  say,  and,  in  time,  became 
seasonable.  Thus,  about  the  time  of  cider 
making  and  stilling,  in  a  quiet  way,  to  save  the 
overripe  and  unmarketable  fruit,  and  before  the 
fall  rains  set  in,  the  temperance  agitation  be- 
gan, taking  sometimes  the  energetic  form  of 


4  JACK    RACER 

the  crusade,  and  again,  the  more  seductive 
methods  of  the  Good  Templars. 
This  usually  ripened  into  a  religious  revival 
in  winter,  which  in  spring  softened  into  mu- 
sical conventions  and  strawberry  festivals,  none 
of  which  were  reckoned  as  gayeties  in  Pekin, 
all  having  some  saving  object  in  view.  Not- 
withstanding, a  great  many  outside  matters 
were  accomplished  in  this  way,  for  which  more 
worldly  communities  have  to  depend  on  more 
worldly  methods.  Not  to  take  an  interest  in 
whatever  was  uppermost  was  to  become  a 
member  of  that  vague,  though  large,  body 
known  as  Antichrist.  The  case  of  such  an 
one,  however,  was  by  no  means  hopeless.  Old 
Jacob  Kintzing,  who  made  a  good  deal  of  cider 
publicly,  and  manufactured  apple-jack  and 
peach  brandy  privately,  and  during  the  temper- 
ance agitation  was  held  to  be  a  winebibber  and 
corrupter  of  youth,  was  the  mainstay  of  the 
winter  revival.  On  the  other  hand.  Squire 
Green,  who  led  the  crusade,  at  other  seasons 


JACK'S    CURIOUS    INTEREST    5 

was  an  ill-odor  in  the  nostrils  of  Pekin  and 
unpleasantly  spoken  of  as  a  whited  sepulchre. 
There  was  always  one  exception.  At  all 
times  and  at  all  seasons,  Jack  Racer  was  re- 
garded with  unchanging  disapproval.  This 
was  not  because  Jack  did  not  take  an  interest 
in  everything  that  went  on  ;  but  because  of 
what  might  be  called  the  quality  of  Jack's 
interest.  He  was  popularly  supposed  to  be  dis- 
sipated, from  the  odor  of  cardamom  seeds  he 
generally  diffused,  —  cardamom  seeds,  in  places 
of  the  size  of  Pekin,  being  in  request  among 
gentlemen  addicted  to  both  liquor  and  society. 
A  good  deal  of  Jack's  reputation  he  had  taken 
pains  to  earn  in  the  same  manner.  He  usually 
clad  himself  in  a  certain  rakish  cast  of  var- 
ments, surmounted  by  a  tall  white  hat,  which 
was  emphasized  by  a  broad  black  band.  This 
by  no  means  indicated  any  special  affliction  in 
Jack's  family,  but  was  chosen  with  a  fine 
instinct  of  the  fitness  of  things  from  the  Pekin 
pomt  of  view.  This  hat  was  especially  frowned 


6  JACK     RACER 

upon,  for  Pekin  insisted  on  the  moral  quality 
of  clothes,  and  associated  white  hats  with  the 
sporting  men  who  passed  through  on  their  way 
to  the  Sparta  fair. 

This  fine  August  morning,  Jack  was  to  meet 
Will  Triplow  and  Amzi  TuUis  at  Sam  Lime- 
cooly's  store,  to  arrange  a  camp-meeting  party 
—  for  now  that  the  gardens  were  all  under  way, 
the  annual  camp-meetings  were  announced  for 
Lima  and  Sparta,  as  well  as  for  Pekin. 
Jack  walked  with  a  light  heart  down  Main 
Street,  snapping  his  riding  whip  about  his  slen- 
der legs  and  whistling  an  air  from  Le  Petit 
Faust^  in  clear,  low  tones.  Of  the  nativity 
of  his  tune  he  had  no  idea,  but  it  had  a  light, 
worldly  ring  which  caught  his  ear.  He  also 
realized  that  it  was  as  different  as  possible  from 
the  fashion  of  music  in  Pekin,  where  the  gay- 
est young  ladies  spread  out  the  Gospel  Hymns 
when  asked  to  favor  with  some  music,  and 
where  the  most  hopeless  midnight  brawlers 
sang  "  Hold  the   Fort." 


JACIC'S    CURIOUS    INTEREST    7 
Jack  stopped  before  the  store  door  to  pull  off 
a  piece  of  dried  herring  which  hung  at  one  side 
among  the  indications  of  Sam's  varied  trade. 
"Jack,  give  us  a  piece  !  " 
"  Hello,  Billy  Campbell !   Is  that  you  ?  " 
Jack  handed  down  a   piece  of  herring  to  an 
eight-year-old  boy,  who  twitched  his  trousers 
and  turned  up  a  pair  of  blue  eyes  and  a  very 
freckled  nose. 

"  Why,  Billy,  how  you  're  blowing  !  " 
"  I  've  been   runnin'   races   with  Bob  Wally, 
an'  I  can  beat  him,  Jack.      He  runjis  as  tight 
as  he  could  go,  but  I  run  the  tightest." 
Jack  laughed  so  loud  that  Sam  Limecooly  came 
to  the  door. 

"  Jack,  the  fellows  are  waitin'." 
*' That 's  a  good  occupation.      Billy,  are  you 
all  well  down  to  your  house  ?  " 
"  I  guess  mother  ain't.      She  has  her  jaws  tied 
up." 

"  How  's  your  father  ?  " 
"  He  's  gone  to  Lima,  to  get  the  power  fixed." 


8  JACK    RACER 

"Hay-press  broke  again,  eh?"      Jack  stood 
awhile,  twirling  his  mustache. 
"  By  the  way,  I  forgot  to  ask  after  Aunt  Kiz. 
She  'd  never  forgive  me,  Billy." 
"  Oh,  she  's  railin',  as  usual." 
"  Billy  Campbell,  you  don't  know  what  you  're 
talking  about." 

"  That 's  what  mother  said,  anyway.     She  was 
cussin'  things,  that 's  what  she  was  doin'." 
"  That 's  a  fib.     Aunt  Kiz  does  n't  say  bad 
words." 

"  Then  it  's  because  she  dasn't."    The  young- 
ster looked  up  from  the  doorstep. 
"  How  do  you  know  .''  " 
"  I  see  it  in  her  eye." 

"  Jack  !  Jack  !  "  called  impatient  voices  from 
within. 

Jack   lifted  one  foot  up  the  wooden   step  to- 
ward the  door,  and  paused. 
"  I  saw  Nance  Jackson  going  in  your  house 
this  morning." 
''She's   goin'    to    help   wash.      Looky   here, 


JACK'S    CURIOUS    INTEREST    9 

what  she  give  me."    The  boy  held  out  a  corn- 
cob pipe. 

Jack  caught  him  by  the  shoulders. 
"  Billy  Campbell,  if  I  catch  you  with  that  pipe 
in  your  mouth,  it  won't  be  good  for  you." 
"  You  ain't  my  keeper." 
«  But  you  won't,  Billy,"  said  the  young  man, 
condescending  to  coax.     "  It  would  make  your 
women  folks  feel  bad." 
"Mebbe  I  won't." 

"  So  Nance  is  there,  helping  wash.  Is  there 
anything  the  matter  more  than  common  ?  " 
"Hello,^  there's  Bob  Wally.  Hi,  Bob!" 
Billy  started  down  the  street  at  full  speed, 
leaving  Jack  to  chew  the  cud  of  his  curiosity 
in  the  Campbell  family's  health  and  domestic 

affairs. 

"  What  have  they  got  Nance  for  to-day  ? 
They  ain't  usually  so  considerate,"  he  said  to 
himself.  "  Drat  the  boy."  Then  he  entered 
Sam  Limecooly's  store. 


CHAPTER      TWO 


II 

Social  Events  are  shaped  in  Sam  Limecooly's 
Store 

^ERE  he  was  assailed  by  the  in- 
dignant voices  of  two  young 
men.  They  were  sufficiently 
well-favored  youths,  but  of  the 
bilious-type  of  the  country.  At 
present,  they  decorated  the  counter,  and  had 
between  them  a  large  cheese,  at  which  they 
both  were  nibbling. 

"  How  much  time  do  you  think  I  've  got.  Jack 
Racer,  that  you  keep  me  waitin'  here  ?  " 
"  You  've  got  all   the  time  there  is,  my  boy. 
Much  as  anybody." 

Amzi  Tullis,  to  whom  Jack  spoke,  was  the 
young  Croesus  of  the  neighborhood,  but  a 
Crcesus  whose  proper  view  of  the  advantage 
of  possessing  fat  meadows  was  tempered  by 


14  JACK    RACER 

being  also  the  possessor  of  a  bristly  shock  of 
red  hair  and  innumerable  freckles.  These  quali- 
fying facts  bore  outward  fruit  ;  but  in  secret 
Amzi  nourished  visions  of  beautiful  and  dash- 
ing women  in  whose  sight  the  fat  meadows 
should  entirely  obscure  the  unlovelier  features 
of  his  personalitv. 

His  companion,  Will  Triplow,  kept  the  jewelry 
store  of  Pekin.  Will  was  a  nice,  dainty  fel- 
low, with  well-kept  nails.  This  should  not 
have  been  a  distinguishing  feature  in  Pekin, 
but,  unhappily,  it  was.  Will  was  a  ladies' 
man  and  always  to  be  depended  on  to  show 
courtesies  to  young  lady  visitors  in  Pekin.  He 
was  consequently  much  sought  after  on  all 
social  occasions,  when  his  natural  amiability 
was  rendered  more  attractive  by  reason  of  a 
tenor  voice.  With  this,  it  being  neither  too 
weak  nor  very  strong,  he  was  reasonably  sat- 
isfied. Knowing  a  few  chords  on  the  piano, 
he  could  accompany  himself,  and  showed  the 
greatest   readiness  to  fill  up  any  social  gap  in 


SOCIAL    EVENTS  15 

this  way.  Another  amiable  trait  was  his  habit 
of  keeping  newspaper  clippings  in  his  pocket- 
book,  from  which  verses  of  poetry  and  amus- 
ing incidents  could  be  opportunely  produced. 
You  and  I  might  have  objected  to  his  voice 
as  too  feminine,  and  to  the  particularity  of  his 
enunciation.  But  in  Pekin  these  were  held  to 
be  tokens  of  a  refined  nature. 
The  third  of  the  trio  was  Sam  Limecooly,  big, 
ugly,  sententious,  and  wise  ;  the  proprietor  of 
the  largest  store  in  the  village,  where,  in  his 
shirt-sleeves  and  with  the  assistance  of  a  clerk, 
he  measured  calico  and  sold  combs,  hams,  and 
molasses  with  strict  impartiality  and  attention 
to  business. 

"Yes,  Jack;  we  have  been  here  a  consider- 
able spell,"  said  Mr.  Triplow. 
"  Why  do  you  fellows  waste  so  much  time  talk- 
ing ?  "  said  Jack,  as  he  reversed  a  chair  and  be- 
strode it.  "  Have  you  engaged  your  teams  ?  " 
"  That  's  settled  so  far  as  Triplow  and  I  are 
concerned."       Sam    Limecooly,   having    dis- 


i6  JACK    RACER 

patched  a  youthful  customer  with  a  bar  of 
soap  to  finish  the  washing,  was  now  at  leisure 
to  join  in  the  conversation.  "  We  engaged 
Tim  Lucky's  browns  and  two-seated  concern. 
It 's  more  to  the  purpose  to  settle  about  the 
girls." 

"  Tullis,  what  have  you  ?  "  asked  Jack,  medita- 
tively, and  giving  no  heed. 
"  I  've  got  a  spanking  new  top-buggy  !  "  Amzi 
looked  from  one  to  another  and  shut  his  lips 
in  comical  defiance.  "  I  went  to  Sparkins  at 
Lima  and  I  said, '  Look  here,  Sparkins,  I  might 
as  well  buy  the  thing  out  and  out.  Give  me 
the  purtiest  thing  out,  and  I  '11  stand  the 
damage.'  " 

"  Cushions  soft,  back  upholstered,  springs 
easy  ?  "  Jack  asked,  still  musing. 
"  Easy  as  a  cradle.  It 's  just  such  a  stylish 
thing,  Jack —  "  Amzi's  face  crimsoned  as  he 
threw  out  the  suggestion  —  "I  thought  I  'd 
ask  Laury  Francis." 
"  Why,  of  course.   Get  a  girl  to  match,"  Jack 


SOCIAL    EVENTS  17 

said,  gruffly  ;  and  Amzi  felt  himself  brushed 
aside.  The  young  man  then  resumed,  with 
an  air  of  indifference,  "  I  suppose  you  fellows 
will  take  Miss  Ross  and  Miss  Burke,  as  you  're 
going  together  ?  " 

"  Jehosaphat !  "  cried  Sam.  Will  Triplow, 
who  had  been  lying  on  the  counter,  his  head 
pillowed  on  a  pile  of  brown  paper,  started  up 
with  eyes  so  bulging  with  astonishment  that 
Jack  broke  into  a  loud  laugh. 
"  Why,  Jack,  who  are  you  going  to  take  ?  " 
inquired  Amzi,  who  was  in  a  cooler  frame  of 
mind,  his  fate  being  settled. 
"  I  ought  to  have  told  you  in  the  first  place. 
It 's  out  of  the  question  mv  taking  anybody. 
When  the  basket-meeting  was  first  talked  about, 
Uncle  George  asked  me  to  drive  Elder  John- 
son out.  You  see,  it  is  n't  often  the  old  fellow 
asks  me  a  favor,  and  I  want  to  oblige  him. 
But  I  '11  be  with  you  as  soon  as  I  tuck  the 
elder  safely  away  in  the  Amen  corner.  Now, 
I  have  an  errand,  as  we  've  about  settled  this 
2 


i8  JACK    RACER 

matter."  Jack  started  for  the  door,  but  with- 
out his  usual  alacrity. 

"  Bv  the  way,Tullis,"  he  called  back,  ••'  there 's 
a  Chicago  fellow  with  stunning  side-whiskers 
staying  up  at  Francis's.  I  'd  go  a  little 
slow." 

He  stopped,  and  watched  with  contentment 
Amzi's  sudden  dislocation  of  mind  at  this  piece 
of  news,  and  then  went  to  the  rescue. 
"  Never  mind,  old  fellow,  he  '11  be  gone  in  a 
week,  and  both  the  girl  and  the  buggy  will 
keep." 

"  But  what  '11  I  do  about  the  basket-meetin'. 
Jack  ?  " 

"Take  Campbell's  niece,  Amzi.  She'll  ap- 
preciate your  upholstery,  eh  ?  " 
"Jus'  as  you  say.  Jack,"  said  Amzi,  now 
humble  in  his  discomfiture.  "  She  has  n't  the 
beauty  and  the  style  of  Laury  Francis,  but 
she  's  comfortable  and  she  's  soothin'." 
"  Oh,  I  don't  suggest  her  as  an  anodyne," 
said  Jack,  apparently  hard  to  please. 


SOCIAL    EVENTS  19 

Some  association  of  ideas  stirred  Mr.  Triplow, 
who  moved  on  his  brown-paper  pillow,  and, 
clasping  his  hands,  began, — 

O  Woman  !  in  our  hours  of  ease 
Uncertain,  coy,  and  hard  to  please, 
When  pain  and  anguisli  wring  the  brow 
You  d  — 

''  How  does  it  go,  boys  ?  " 
*'  You   bawl   for  her,  like  a  calf  for  a  cow. 
That's  truth,  if  it   isn't   poetry,"  said  Jack, 
good-hu  mo  redly. 

"  I  like  Lucy  because  she  listens  so  hearty." 
"  And  you  talk  so  much,  O  sententious  Sam- 
uel!  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  she  bends  forward,  cocks  up  one 
little  ear,  and  looks  you  in  the  eye  until  you 
feel  you  're  Demosthenes  or  Cicero." 
"  I  'm  with  you,  Limecooly,"  chimed  in  Will 
Triplow,  "  I  like  to  see  a  woman  pay  at- 
tention." 

"  If  you '11  allow  me  to  suggest,"  interrupted 
Jack,  "you  '11  send  your  ladies  word,  that  no 


20  JACK    RACER 

time  may  be  lost  in  collecting  the  stray  yel- 
low-legged chickens." 

So  saying,  Jack  departed,  and  might  have  been 
seen  woino-  up  the  street  in  a  high  state  of 
satisfaction. 

"  '  If  you  '11  allow  me  to  suggest  !  '  That  is 
good,"  murmured  Sam,  As  his  own  girl  was 
away  on  a  visit,  he  was  indifferent  as  to  whom 
he  escorted.  At  the  same  time,  he  was  curi- 
ous at  being  disposed  of  so  summarily. 
Will  Triplow  had  scarcely  recovered  from  his 
astonishment  at  being  thrust  into  what  he  had 
taken  to  be  Jack's  preserves,  but  he  felt  a  new 
impulse. 

"  If  you  don't  mind,  Sam,  I '11  take  Miss  Burke. 
I  always  felt  a  desire  to  study  her  character." 
"  I  'm  glad,  since  things  have  turned  out  so," 
said  honest  Amzi,  "  that  I  'm  to  take  Lucy. 
She  's  plain  and  simple.  I  never  could  abide 
riddles." 

"Well,  Anna's  good  enough  for  me,"  said 
Sam. 


SOCIAL    EVENTS  21 

As  the  young  men  left,  Sam  watched  them 
from  the  door,  still  wearing  his  puzzled  look. 
"  He  's  afraid  to  take  one,  and  he  's  afraid  to 
take  both.     That's  my  opinion." 


CHAPTER      THREE 


Ill 

On  the  Road  to  Camp-Meeting 

EKIN  is  in  the  prairie  country. 
East,  west,  north,  south,  it  lies  a 
dead  level,  diversified  only  by  the 
hand  of  man  in  orchards,  mead- 
ows, and  low  farmhouses,  screened 
by  plantations  from  the  fierce  sweep  ot  the 
prairie  winds.  The  range  of  vision  is  almost 
unbroken  to  where  the  yellow  grasses  touch 
the  skv.  But  the  sublimity  of  the  vast  ex- 
panse of  the  sea  and  the  restfulness  of  the 
long  mountain  reaches  are  here  only  ennui  and 
impatience.  A  fine  land  for  corn  and  cattle  ! 
This  is  its  aspect  in  the  eyes  of  its  inhabitants, 
and  has  added  its  touch  of  sordidness  and  com- 
monplace to  their  character.  This,  however, 
is  unappreciated  at  Pekin  and,  in  any  case, 
would  be  held   inmateriaL 


26  JACK    RACER 

At  this  season  the  roads  are  superb.  They  lie 
smooth  and  level  between  fields  of  yellow 
bloom  and  white  buckwheat,  where  myriads 
of  bees  are  sipping  sweets  for  Pekin  honey, 
and  wanton  butterflies  are  idling.  To-day 
there  is  an  almost  unbroken  procession  of  non- 
descript vehicles,  laden  with  an  equally  non- 
descript variety  of  human  beings,  on  the  way 
to  the  camp-ground.  Extremes  meet  in  Judge 
Francis's  fine  carriage  and  daughter,  just  home 
from  boarding-school,  with  her  Chicago  beau  ; 
and  Tim  Lucky  in  his  two-wheeled  cart,  with 
his  old  wife  by  his  side. 

Loitering  at  the  start,  to  avoid  the  dust,  and  in 
no  haste  for  the  opening  exercises,  was  the 
camp-meeting  party.  The  special  attraction 
of  the  day  was  Mahala  Plyley,  a  female  evan- 
gelist, who  was  in  great  demand  for  such  oc- 
casions. This  they  knew.  The  postal  card 
which  assisted  in  carrying  on  the  negotiations 
had  been  read  aloud  by  Jack  Racer  in  Sam 
Limecooly's  store. 


TO  CAMP-AIEETING  27 
"  Mv  terms  aie,"  Miss  Plyley  wrote,  "fifty 
dollars  for  three  weeks'  work.  Please  engage 
the  largest  house  of  worship,  where  all  can 
gather  that  are  ready  to  do  battle  on  the  Lord's 
side. 

"P.  S.      I  run  all  summer," 
In  some  communities  this  postal  card  would 
have  filled  the  front  seats  at  an  early  hour,  but 
Pekin  was  used  to  it,  apostles  being  common 
to  the  prairie. 

Miss  Burke  leaned  idly  back  in  the  carriage 
at  Will  Triplow's  side,  her  eves  half  closed 
and  on  her  handsome  face  a  shadow  of  dis- 
content. Miss  Ross,  on  the  front  seat,  was, 
on  the  contrary,  in  high  spirits,  making  com- 
ments of  more  or  less  wit  on  everything  on  the 
road. 

Anna  Ross  had  what  people  call  a  sharp  tongue. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  it  was  4  tongue  one 
would  hesitate  to  have  engaged  against  one's 
self.  The  Ross  family  had  lived  at  Pekin 
ever  since  Anna  was  a  baby.     She  had  grown 


28  JACK    RACER 

up  with  the  Pekiii  boys  and  girls,  and  had  ruled 
them,  or  fought  them  manfully  if  they  resisted 
her  rulings.  She  had  once  even  drubbed  great 
Sam  Limecooly,  now  sitting  by  her  side.  He 
was  much  smaller  then  ;  in  fact,  he  v/as 
only  six  years  old,  and  had  refused,  after  the 
twentieth  time,  to  say  bureau  —  he  called  it 
buow  —  for  her  amusement,  Anna  having 
spoken  plainly  ever  since  she  could  speak 
at  all. 

In  those  earlv  days,  Anna  and  Jack  Racer  had 
been  allies,  Anna  engaging  literally  tooth  and 
nail  on  Jack's  side  in  any  of  his  emergencies. 
In  this  way,  she  was  a  valuable  friend,  never 
thinking  it  worth  inquiring  what  Mr.  Triplow 
would  call  the  "subject  matter"  of  Jack's 
troubles.  For  this  Jack  had  always  been  duly 
grateful,  and  a  strong  feeling  existed  between 
them.  UntiJ  the  arrival  of  Miss  Burke,  Anna 
had  never  thought  of  analyzing  her  and  Jack's 
friendship.  Her  quick  wit  soon  perceived  a 
difference  in  Jack's  attentions  to  Miss  Burke. 


TO    CAMP-MEETING       29 

Anna  was  not  pleased  with  what,  she  saw.  Ac- 
cordingly, the  two  girls  became  great  friends. 
Anna's  spirits  on  this  day  arose  partly  from  the 
fact  that  at  least  Irene  Burke  was  not  going 
to  the  basket-meeting  with  Jack  Racer.  That 
she  herself  was  not  going  with  him  gave  her 
no  trouble.  Anna's  happiness  for  some  time 
had  rested  on  such  negative  facts.  On  other 
occasions,  receiving  the  lesser  share  of  Jack's 
divided  attentions  had  made  her  rather  cross 
at  home.  This  was  somewhat  hard  on  the 
Ross  familv,  the  harder  from  the  fact  that,  as 
old  Air.  Ross  said,  he  "had  no  use  for  Jack 
Racer,  anyway." 

"  There  go  Amzi  and  Lucy.  Don't  vou  gi\e 
us  your  dust !  How  smiling  Amzi  looks.  I 
wonder  if  that  will  make  a  match.  It  would 
be  a  good  thing  for  her,  she  ain't  any  more 
than  Campbell's  hired  giri.  Thev  say  they 
pay  her  wages." 

"  That  's  just  like  you  girls,  always  thinking 
of  getting  married." 


30  J  ACK    RACER 

"  That 's  no  such  thing,  Sam  Limecooly.  For 
my  part,  I  don't  think  much  of  matrimony." 
"  Do  you  hear  that.  Miss  Burke  ?  "  Mr.  Trip- 
low,  who  had  been  vainly  endeavoring  to  study 
female  character  as  represented  by  Miss  Burke, 
was  now  glad  to  relieve  his  ill-paid  efforts  by 
joining  in  Anna's  conversation. 
"  Oh,  Miss  Anna  !  you  can't  be  in  earnest." 
"  Yes,  I  am.  So  far  as  I  can  see,  getting 
married  only  gives  folks  an  extra  good  chance 
to  be  disagreeable.  Isn't  that  so,  Irene?  Is 
the  girl  asleep  ?  "  Anna  peered  around. 
"  Are  n't  you  fond  of  conversation.  Miss 
Burke  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Triplow. 
"  I  am  in  general,  but  not  in  particular,"  re- 
plied that  lady,  who  was  considering  mean- 
while what  she  thought  of  Anna's  vulgar  way 
of  expressing  herself.  Miss  Burke,  coming 
from  a  larger  town,  had  higher  claims  to  re- 
finements of  speech. 

"  Well,"  exclaimed  Mr. Triplow,  "  I  enjoy  the 
clashing  ot  mind  against  mind,  for  my  part." 


TO  CAMP-xVlEETING  31 
Whereupon  Miss  Burke  laughed  hysterically, 
and  Mr.  Triplow  felt  more  and  more  deeply 
how  difficult  was  the  task  he  had  undertaken. 
"  There  comes  Jack  Racer  with  his  new  horse 
and  trotting  buggy.  What  a  spectacle  !  Who 
has  he  with  him  ?  " 

As  Anna  spoke,  Miss  Burke  leaned  forward 
curiously  and  then  sank  back  in  her  seat  with 
a  shade  less  of  discontent. 
Jack  sped  forth  with  a  merry  nod,  his  feet 
planted  a  yard  apart,  his  arms  extended  at  tull 
length,  holding  the  tightly-drawn  reins,  a 
jockey  cap  pulled  over  his  forehead. 
"  Hi,  there  !  Look  sharp  !  The  elder  's  in  a 
hurry." 

"  Mercy  on  me,  you  'd  think  Jack  had  entered 
for  the  Sparta  fair.  Do  look  at  the  elder." 
The  tall,  gaunt  form  clutched  with  one  hand 
the  tall  hat,  the  other  clung  to  the  back  of  the 
buggv,  which  left  but  little  grip  to  the  thin 
fingers. 
Everybodygave  way  to  the  flying  steed.  Jimmy 


32  JACK    RACER 

Bergan  drew  his  wagon  up  to  one  side  of  the 
road  and  stopped.  Miss  Samantha  Dyer,  who 
occupied  a  precarious  chair  in  the  wagon, 
brushed  angrily  the  dust  that  Jack's  wheels 
had  transferred  to  her  shoulders, 
"•  I  do  think  the  law  ought  to  make  Jack 
Racer  behave  hisself.  Suchdrivin'  to  meetin', 
dustin'  everybody,  is  scan'lous." 
"  It 's  vain  appealin'  to  the  world's  law,  Sister 
Dyer,"  said  Mrs.  Bergan,  who  was  spiritually 
minded.  "  It 's  grace  Jack  Racer  needs,  an' 
we  may  hope  he  '11  be  teched  this  day,  though 
I  do  hate  to  feel  gritty  an'  git  my  bunnit  spiled  ; 
but  sacrifices  we  are  called  upon  to  make,  Sister 
Dyer." 

"  But  I  ain't  satisfied  with  that  view  of  it.  Mis' 
Bergan,  so  long  as  there's  peace  justices  and 
town  constables  to  make  folks  behave.  It  is 
not  as  if  it  was  rain,  as  falls  on  the  just  an' 
the  unjust  even  on  meetin'  days,  an'  shrinkin' 
wool  goods  as  it  does.  I  never  have  a  word 
to  say  agin  Providence.      I  'm  the  las'  person 


TO  CAMP-MEETING  33 
to  do  that.  But  Jack  Racer  ain't  him,  nor  no 
ways  akin  to  him,  that  ever  I  heerd." 
"  But  he  works  by  insterments,  Sister  Dyer, 
some  of  them  the  lowest  and  meanest  sort. 
Bein'  a  good  Christian  and  perfessor,  you  can't 
deny  that." 

"  Laws-a-mercy,  who  ever  thought  of  denyin' 
it.  Mis'  Bergan  ?  "  Sister  Dyer  exclaimed,  with 
some  asperity.  Having  a  more  logical  mind, 
she  held  in  some  contempt  her  companion's 
inability  to  keep  direct  hold  upon  a  subject. 
But  remembering  her  debt  for  a  chair  in  the 
Bergan  wagon,  she  added,  graciously,  "Let 
me  straighten  down  your  collar,  Sister  Bergan. 
You  '11  muss  it." 

Jack  and  the  elder  were  spinning  on. 
"  You  see.  Elder,  I  mean  to  get  you  there  in 
time,"  said  Jack,  cheerily. 
"  But    the    horse,    Jackson.      The    merciful 
man  is  merciful   to  his  beast,  the  Scriptures 
say." 

The  elder  spoke  with  difficulty,  his  teeth  were 
3 


34  JACK    RACER 

locked  in  unison  with  his  grasp  on  the  buggy 
seat. 

"  Never  mind  Fancy,  as  long  as  we  enjoy  it. 
I  Ve  speeded  her  on  this  road  at  2  :  31.  I  '11 
do  it  again,  if  you  like."  Jack  bent  forward 
another  half-inch  and  gave  another  loop  to  his 
lines.  The  elder  let  go  of  his  hat  and  grasped 
Jack's  arm  fervently.  The  much-worn  head- 
covering  bounded  off  into  the  road,  knocking 
the  yellow  bloom  off  the  prairie  daisies  in  its 
flight. 

At  a  word  the  panting  little  mare  drew  up. 
Jack  threw   down  the   lines,  leaped  out,  and 
chased  the  hat,  which  he  carefully  dusted  with 
his  handkerchief. 
"  There,  Elder,  good  as  new." 
The  elder  examined  it  carefully,  and  replaced  it 
on  his  head  with  an  extra  pull,  which  brought 
it  about  his  ears  and  ready  for  any  emergency  ; 
this,  however,  he  meant  to  avert. 
"  I  am  afraid,  Jackson,  you  have  what  is  called 
a  fast  horse." 


TO     CAAIP-MEETING       35 

"  No,  indeed,  Elder.      Fancy  is  n't  fast,  she  's 

only  industrious.      When  any  work  is  laid  out 

for  her  to  do,  she  up  and  does  it.      Elder,  Fancy 

is  an  example  I  have  always  before  me." 

Jack  looked  around  with  serious  face. 

"  I  am  rejoiced  to  hear  it,  Jackson.      The  fast 

horse  leadeth  to  destruction." 

"  I  remember  once  when  it  went  before  a  fall. 

Spilled,  Elder,  in  front  of  the  prettiest  girls  of 

Sparta,  driving  against  Tim  Lucky's  Hamble- 

tonian  —  you  know  that  strain.     Destruction  ! 

You  would  have  said  so,  if  you  had  seen  that 

sulky  and  my  breeches." 

The  elder  did  not  reply.     Jack  turned  around 

inquiringly,  and  saw  the  moisture  in  the  old 

man's  eyes. 

"  Yes,  it  would  grieve  me,  Jackson,  if  you 

found  the  paths  of  sin  pleasant.      At  first  they 

do  seem  so  to  a  young  man  of  high  spirits. 

You  see,  I  knew  your  mother  when  she  was 

Agnes  Kemp,  a  pretty,  fair  young  girl,  prettier 

and  fairer  than  they  seem  to  me  nowadays.      I 


36  JACK     RACER 

used  to  watch  her  in  singing  school,  and  think 

the  heavenly  choirs  could  n't  hold  a  sweeter 

voice  or  face.      But  your  father  was  a  likelier 

man  than  me,  Jackson,  so  I  held  my  peace.      I 

never  forgot  her,  and  when  I  see  that  young 

thing,  Campbell's  niece,  that   has  something 

the  same  takin'  ways  your  mother  had,  I  feel 

more  than  ever  kind  feelings  for  Agnes  Kemp's 

son." 

Jack  took  his  lines  in  one  hand,  and  laid  the 

other  in  the  elder's  palm,  who  closed  his  fingers 

over  it.     Jack  did  not  turn.      His  hand  rested 

quietly  for  some  minutes.      When  he  lifted  it, 

he  pointed  to  the  smoke  curling  above  the  green 

woods  beyond,  and  to  the  figures  moving  under 

the  trees.      Presently  the  road   disclosed  the 

great  white  tent. 

"  You  see,  Elder,  we  are    nearly   there.      A 

pretty  sight,  is  n't  it  ?  " 

The  old  man  raised  his  eyes  aloft. 

" '  How  amiable  are  Thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord 

of  Hosts  ! '  " 


TO  CAMP-MEETING  37 
"  '  Yea,  the  sparrow  hath  found  a  house,  and 
the  swallow  a  nest  for  herself  where  she  may 
lay  her  young,  even  Thine  altars,  O  Lord  ot 
Hosts,  My  King,  My  God.' " 


CHAPTER       FOUR 


IV 


Wherein  Pekin  is  seen  Uniting  Religion  and 
Festivity 

HE   camp-meeting     grounds 
comprised   a  pretty    wooded 
area,    known    in    the    local 
dialect     as     "the     timber." 
•  Through     it     ran     a     small 
stream.      This   bit   of  undulating   green   was 
the  pride  of  all  the  country  roundabout  and 
was  shown  by  the  inhabitants  to  visitors  as 
"scenery."      From  the  point  of  approach,  the 
road  by  which  Jack  and  the  elder  came,  it  was 
a  pleasing  scene.      The  white  tent  gleamed 
among  the  tree  tops;   the  blue  smoke  from  the 
camp-fires  curled  above  them ;  and  under  their 
leafy  arms,  figures  added  the  grace  of  life  and 
movement.   Nearer,  the  strains  of  the  Gospel 
Hymns  floated  on  the  air. 


42  JACK    RACER 

Scene  and  sound  thus  brought  the  occasion  up 
to  its  ideal  significance.  Closer  view  some- 
what rudely  dispelled  this  vision,  for  the  mind 
is  only  allowed  to  hold  its  perfect  images  for 
an  instant.  The  log-cabin  in  which  the  pru- 
dent householder  sheltered  his  family  disclosed 
in  its  surroundings  the  absence  of  sewerage  and 
garbage  carts.  The  handmaidens  about  the 
stoves  on  the  porches  were  neither  picturesque 
nor  melodious.  The  rows  of  tents  gave  into 
interiors  with  glimpses  of  unmade  beds  and 
confusion  of  wearing  apparel.  The  greensward 
was  despoiled  by  the  debris  of  picnic  parties  and 
strewn  with  that  later  triumph  of  civiliza- 
tion,—  paper  collars. 

About  the  door  of  the  large  tent  was  a  group 
of  young  people,  laughing,  chaffing,  and  indulg- 
ing in  the  varied  forms  of  wit  in  vogue  in  the 
district.  No  questions  of  propriety  disturbed 
the  hilarity  of  the  occasion.  From  time  to 
time  couples  strayed,  hand  in  hand,  into  the  tent 
to   enjoy  one   another's   society  undisturbed. 


RELIGION  AND  FESTIVITY  43 
Again,  the  group  would  part  for  a  mother 
leading  out  a  crying  child,  or  for  a  bevy  of  rest- 
less children  who  had  grown  tired  of  the  hard 
benches  and  had  departed  with  more  or  less  cir- 
cumstance. 

Jack's  appearance  with  the  elder  created  the 
general  interest  which  Jack's  movements  usu- 
ally aroused,  and  which  he  enjoyed  with  ap- 
parent unconsciousness.  The  throng  at  the 
door  gave  wav  before  him.  Jack  pressed  down 
the  centre  aisle,  looking  back  occasionally  after 
the  elder,  who  threaded  his  wav  with  some  dif- 
ficulty. Jack's  presence  in  the  more  active 
quarters  of  the  tent  made  a  little  sensation. 
The  attention  of  a  rural  congregation  is  very 
lightly  held.  It  now  broke  entirely  loose  from 
the  speaker,  who  had  entered  into  the  fervent 
state  of  her  discourse.  Jack,  having  found  the 
elder  a  seat  near  the  pulpit,  started  back  through 
the  crowded  aisle.  The  congregation,  with  one 
movement,  turned  its  head  to  follow  the  slim 
figure  with  the  rakish  white  coat  and  odious  hat. 


44  JACK     RACER 

A  small  cloud,  which  betokened  rising  tem- 
per, appeared  on  the  speaker's  face.  She  was 
scarcely  older  than  Jack,  a  square-faced,  dark- 
browed  woman,  with  short,  crisp  hair  and  stal- 
wart face. 

"  Stop  !  "  she  cried,  exasperated  by  the  un- 
usual length  of  the  interruption  and  that  slightly 
superior  air  to  preachments  which  Jack  did 
not  hide. 

"Stop,  vain  and  foolish  young  man  !  Has  no- 
body warned  you  of  the  wrath  to  come,  that 
you  turn  your  back  on  the  Gospel  and  its  minis- 
ters, and  walk  out  of  the  presence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  like  a  young  turkey  cock  ?" 
Jack  felt  himself  addressed,  and  turned  and 
looked  at  the  angry  young  priestess. 
"  Stop,  I  tell  you,  or  the  day  will  come  when 
you  will  call  on  the  rocks  and  hills  to  fall  on 
you.  That  hat  that  you  hide  your  face  be- 
hind will  lie  crushed  and  trampled  in  the  dust, 
and  the  fine  garments  with  which  you  mock 
the  congregation  of  the  righteous  will  be  things 


RELIGION  AND  FESTIVITY  45 
of  shreds  and  patches,  and  in  vain  will  you  call 
on  high  Heaven  to  cover  your  nakedness." 
Jack  still  stood  imperturbably  facing  the 
preacher.  An  instinct  of  politeness  held  him. 
She  was  a  woman  and  she  was  talking  to  him, 
Jack  Racer.  The  elder  raised  his  gaunt  form, 
and  held  up  a  warning  hand  toward  the  excited 
woman. 

"  Stop,  sister.  The  ways  of  the  Lord  are  not 
our  ways.  He  speaks  in  the  thunder,  but  also 
in  the  still,  small  voice.  Neither  you  nor  I 
know  through  what  winding  roads  it  may  reach 
the  sinful  heart.  Let  the  young  man  go. 
Whether  he  knows  it  or  not,  he  is  by  inherit- 
ance the  child  of  the  Kingdom,  and  we  will 
pray  that  the  day  will  come  when  he  will  pass 
joyfully  through  the  open  door.  Go,  Jackson, 
and  find  your  young  friends." 
The  elder  sat  down  and  Jack  passed  swiftly 
out  of  the  opening. 

The  preacher  took  up  the  fervent  paragraphs 
she  had  abandoned  ;  but  little  conversational 


46  JACK     RACER 

groups,  accompanied  by  the  nodding  of  elderly 
bonnets,  broke  out  through  the  tent. 
Samantha  Dyer  leaned  forward  and  poked  Mrs. 
Bergan,  on  the  seat  in  front. 
"  It  served  him  right ;  Jack  Racer  has  the  im- 
pidence  of  Old  Nick,  an'  if  he  don't  land  in 
the  calaboose  for  some  of  his  didos,  I  'm  no 
Cassander.       What   a    scorin'  she  give   him  ! 
Did  me  as  much  good  as  her  preachin'," 
"  Yes,  Sister  Dyer,  but  I  was  gittin'  oneasy. 
Her  words  were  vergin'  nigh  on  to  immod- 
esty." 

"That's  true  enufF;  an'  she  an  onmarried 
woman.  But,  laws,  these  preachers  git  so  used 
to  talkin'  Scriptur'  they  don'  pick  an'  choose 
among  their  words,  like  you  an'  I  would  do, 
Mis'  Bergan." 

Young  Mr.  Racer  quite  lost  his  turkey-cock  air 
beyond  the  range  of  the  tent  and  its  loungers. 
On  a  clean,  grassy  knoll,  beyond  the  noise  of 
the  tent  and  the  settlement  of  the  cabins,  Jack 
saw  Amzi's  ponderous  form  disposing  logs. 


RELIGION  AND  FESTIVITY  47 
and  Will  Triplow  bowed  beneath  baskets. 
Toward  them  he  hastened  his  steps. 
Anna  called  him  to  relieve  her  in  emptying  the 
baskets,  but  Jack  paused  to  assist  Miss  Burke 
in  disengaging  a  tablecloth.  Irene  gracefully 
sank  by  one  of  the  rearranged  logs,  and  began 
to  talk  to  Jack  in  one  of  those  conversational 
undertones  instinctively  resented  by  young  la- 
dies like  Miss  Ross. 

"  Rene,"  she  called,  "  get  up,  and  come 
help." 

"I  can't;   it  's  too  warm." 
"You're  red    as  a    beet,"    exclaimed    Anna, 
bluntly.      "  But   you   have  n't  done  anything. 
There's  Lucy,  who  has  n't  stopped,  and  she  's 
fresh  as  a  daisy." 

"  Oh,  she  's  used  to  it."  Irene  yawned,  and 
leaned  back  lazily. 

Campbell's  niece,  who  had  taken  Miss  Laura 
Francis's  place  on  the  new  cushions,  was  hov- 
ering about  Amzi  with  her  arms  full  of  twigs, 
gathered  to  boil  the  kettle. 


48  JACK    RACER 

Jack  turned  and  watched  her  with  a  smile  of 
recollection. 

Miss  Burke  resented  his  wandering  eyes,  and 
appreciated  Anna's  state  of  mind.  But  she  was 
too  much  a  woman  of  the  world,  having 
come  from  Peru,  to  revenge  herself  as  a 
Pekin  girl  might  have  done.  She  laughed 
lightly. 

"  If  you  don't  believe  me  then,  call  me  lazy. 
There  !  I  've  no  reputation  to  sustain  now. 
Mr.  Racer,  I  left  my  fan  in  the  carriage  and 
I  need  it." 

Jack  got  up  to  obey  her  imperious  tones.  His 
prompt  obedience  seemed  to  Anna  contempt- 
ible. 

She  was  grinding  coffee  on  a  stump.    As  he 
passed,  she  said  : 
"  You  ought  to  wear  a  collar." 
He  took  the  coffee-mill   from   her  hand   and 
seated  himself  beside  her. 
"  Now  you  can  give  your  whole  mind  to  it," 
he  said,  grinding  away. 


RELIGION    AND    FESTIVITY   49 

"  To  what  ?  " 
"  To  scolding  me." 

"  Oh,  bah  !  "  And  she  attempted  to  take  the 
mill  from  him  ;  but  he  ground  away  gravely 
to  the  end,  then  gave  it  to  her  and  went  after 
the  fan. 

Will  Triplow,  who  felt  he  had  no  right  to  ap- 
proach Miss  Burke  while  Jack  was  there,  was 
now  ready  to  do  his  duty  as  a  cavalier.  This 
he  still  conceived  was  in  the  way  of  making 
conversation. 

"What  do  you  think,  Miss  Burke,  of  getting 
up  a  Shakespeare  club  ?  " 
"  A  what  ?  "  said  Miss  Burke,  raising  herself 
with  apparent  difficulty  to  the  level  of  Will's 
discourse. 

"  A  Shakespeare  club.  In  Sparta  there  is  a 
Shakespeare  club,  and  a  literary  society,  called 
the  Erodelphian.  You  see  we  have  so  few 
opportunities  for  mental  culture  in  Pekin.  I 
suppose  you  have  belonged  to  such  clubs  in 
Peru  and  could  take  the  lead  ?  " 
4 


50  JACK    RACER 

Irene  sank  back  again,  languidly. 
"  Suppose  you  explain  your  idea,  Mr.  Triplow. 
Then  I  can  say  yes  and  no." 
"Well,  you  see,  we  would  meet  one  evening 
a  week,  each  member  assuming  a  character  — 
not  changing  our  clothes,  of  course,   merely 
reading  ;   and  you  could  assign  the  characters. 
Now,  there  's  Hamlet,"  —  and  Mr.  Triplow 
entered  into  more  minute  details  as  Jack  came 
up  and  tossed  the  fan  in  Irene's  lap. 
"  How  does  the  idea  strike  you,  Miss  Anna  ; 
and  you.  Jack  ?  " 
"  I  hate  clubs,"  said  Anna. 
"  Depends  on  what 's  trumps,  and   the  color 
of  your  jacks,"    remarked    Mr.   Racer,  pro- 
foundly, poking  up  the  grass  with  a  stick. 
"  Poor  Shakespeare,"  said   Miss  Burke,  pity- 
ingly.     "  Do  you   know,  Mr.  Triplow,  very 
few  professional  elocutionists  can  read  Shakes- 
peare." 

"  I  suppose  folks  in  Pekin  know  their  letters. 
I  rather  think  we  use  the  same  alphabet  they 


RELIGION    AND    FESTIVITY    51 

do  in  other  places,  unless   it   is   Peru,"  Anna 
answered,  with  danger  in  her  eye. 
"Oh  —  yes  —  well  —  "  Miss  Burke  stopped 
with   an   air  which   seemed  to  say  it  v/as  n't 
worth  while  to  enter  into  explanations. 
Jack  got  up  hastily. 

"  What  is  the  use  of  two  people  trying  to 
hang  a  kettle  on  a  rotten  stick,  when  there 
are  kind  and  pretty  women  with  stoves  up 
there.  Give  me  the  thing,  Lucy  !  " 
"  Oh,  thank  you,  Jack.  Such  disobliging 
sticks  I  never  saw." 

"  I  should  think  so.  Look  at  your  poor 
scratched  hands.  Amzi,  what  were  you  think- 
ing about  ?  "  Jack  whirled  fiercely  on  Amzi, 
who  turned  up  to  him  a  face  so  scarlet  and 
grimy  from  the  rich  prairie  sod  that  Jack  burst 
into  a  loud  laugh,  then  turned  beseechingly  to 
Lucy,  — 

"  Can't  you  settle  those  girls  over  there  ? 
Make  them  get  up  and  go  to  work.  Send 
Anna  a  mile  away,  after  water,  with  Trip- 


52  JACK    RACER 

low,  and  turn  William  Shakespeare  off  of  the 
grounds." 

After  Sam  Limecooly  had  bathed  one  end  of 
the  tablecloth  with  a  jug  of  cream,  while  lying 
prone  and  painfully  removing  the  bits  of  wood 
and  stout  tufts  of  prairie  grass  beneath,  and 
after  the  girls  had  fastened  down  the  corners 
with  wood,  against  the  frequent  prairie  zephyrs, 
the  lunch  only  waited  Jack's  return  with  the 
coffee.  Good  humor  was  now  restored,  and 
all  were  entertained  by  Will  Triplow's  news- 
paper jokes,  when  Jack  listlessly  appeared, 
holding  the  coffee-pot  carelessly  near  his  white 
trousers. 

"  Mercy  alive.  Jack,  why  don't  you  hurry  ? 
I  have  a  preference  for  hot  coffee."  Anna 
opened  the  pot  suspiciously,  and  snuffed  at  it 
with  a  discriminating  nose. 
"  It  's  stone  cold,"  she  shrieked.  "  It  has  n't 
been  near  the  fire." 
Jack  sat  calmly  down  on  a  log,  while  the  rest 


RELIGION    AND    FESTIVITY    53 

of  the  party  gathered  about  the  pot,  felt  its 
sides,  and  peeped  within  to  be  assured  indi- 
vidually of  Anna's  statement.  It  was  even 
true. 

"  Jack,  why  did  n't  you  cook  it  ?  "  Will  IVip- 
low  fiercely  inquired. 

"  William,  they  would  n't  let  me,"  replied  the 
silent  young  man  on  the  log.  "  I  made  every 
sort  of  overture.  It  was  only  a  question  of 
how  much  snubbing  I  could  stand,  I  even 
went  so  far  as  to  show  one  woman  how  she 
could  deal  over  her  pots  and  kettles  and  let 
me  in  —  have  a  Jack  pot,  as  it  were  —  but 
she  flouted  me,  and  I  retired.  The  coffee  is 
all  there,  and  if  any  of  you  fellows  would  like 
to  try  it,  I  '11  resign." 

"  Never  mind,  Jack.  I  '11  take  it ;  meeting's 
breaking  now,  and  I  '11  find  a  place."  Lucy 
picked  up  the  cofFee-pot  and  started  down  the 
knoll. 

"  Stop,  Lucy.  I  '11  go  with  you  and  handle 
the  thing.      You  '11  spoil  your  frock."     Jack 


54  JACK    RACER 

bounded  after  her.  For  some  seconds  they 
walked  silently  along  the  path,  then  Jack  sud- 
denly asked, — 

"  Did  you  have  a  nice  ride,  Lucy  ?  " 
"  Oh,  yes,  Jack,  a  lovely  ride." 
"  Bang  up  buggy,  is  n't   it  ?      Amzi  got  it  at 
the  Lima  fair,  —  first  premium." 
"  I   know  it  was  easy.      I  had  nothing  to  do 
but  sit  back  and  be  comfortable." 
*'  Of  course  Amzi  made  himself  agreeable  ?  " 
"  He  was  ever  so  kind.   He  told  me  all  about 
the  meadows,  and  a  new  steer  he  has  bought, 
and  what  a  good   manager  his  mother  is,  and 
how  she  makes  her  butter.      I   did  n't   know 
butter  could  be  so  absorbing  a  subject."   Lucy 
looked    up    in    Jack's    face  and   laughed,  but 
Jack's  face  was  grave. 

''  Amzi  is  n't  much  of  a  talker,  Lucy.  But 
he  's  good  and  he  's  safe.  He  'd  never  break 
his  wife's  heart ;  and  there  are  a  good  many 
others  more  flashy  who  would.  Besides,  Lucy, 
no  mistake,  Amzi   is   rich,  and   his  wife  will 


RELIGION    AND    FESTIVITY   55 

only  have  to  sit  back  and  be  comfortable,  just 

as  you  did  in  the  buggy  to-day." 

"You  forget  the  butter,  Jack.      It   has  to  be 

worked  a  half  hour  to  each   pound,  and   his 

mother  looking  on." 

"  Then  let  her  do  it  herself,"  exclaimed  Mr. 

Racer,  angrily.      "  But    that  's  all  nonsense. 

I  'd  back  a  loving  little  wife  against  a  mother 

any  day," 

"  Oh,  '  a  loving  wife,'  "  said  Lucy.      "  You 

did  n't  mention  that  before.  Jack."   And  there 

was  that  in  her  inflections  to  which  Jack  felt 

it  would  not  be  wise  to  reply. 

The  path  narrowed  and  Jack  stepped  back  to 

allow  Lucy  to  go  in  advance.      Gradually  he 

slackened  his  steps  until  he  got  the  lithe  form 

before  him  into  sufficient  focal  distance,  when 

he  paused  to  consider  it  critically. 

"  Lucy  !  "  as  he  again  quickened  his   steps. 

"  What   is  that  stuff  you  're  wearing  ?  " 

"  Maidenhair  fern,  Jack.     Oh,  you  mean  my 

dress  ?  " 


56  JACK    RACER 

Jack  nodded. 

"  It 's  calico  ;  my  old  lavender  calico.      What 
a  question  ! 

"  I  think  it's  nice,  very  nice,  calico." 
"  Does  it  really  look  nice  ?      I  was  so  afraid  it 
would  n't.     I  had  to  wash  it  yesterday  and  iron 
it  by  candlelight." 

"It'll  do,"  replied  Mr.  Racer,  laconically. 
"  There  is  Miss  Samantha  Dyer  at  the  Driggs's 
cabin,  we  '11  ask  her."  Lucy  pointed  to  a 
gaunt  form  bending  over  a  boiling  pot,  and 
a  face  dimly  descried  through  a  cloud  of 
vapor. 

"•  What,  that  old  witch  ?  "    Jack  closed  the  dis- 
tance between  them  with  a  bound.  "  I  would  n't 
ask  her  for  half-a-dollar." 
"  Why,  Jack  ?  " 

"  Because  I  did   ask  her,  and   she   turned  me 
away  like  a  whipped  school-boy." 
■"  You  said  something  to  her." 
*'Of  course  I  did.      I  was  polite  as  a  French- 
man." 


RELIGION  AND  FESTIVITY  57 
"  That  's  what 's  the  matter.  She  thought  you 
were  making  tun  of  her." 
"  Shall  I  push  her  one  side,  and  knock  over 
pots  and  kettles  ?  I  '11  do  it,  if  you  say." 
"  Please  leave  it  to  me.  You  've  done  quite 
enough." 

"  Who  's  that  ?  Is  that  you,  Lucy  ?  Yes., 
seein'  it 's  you,  maybe  I  can  make  room." 
Miss  Samantha  covered  her  pot  and  took  Lucy 
in  with  a  glance  that  left  Jack  altogether  out- 
side. 

"  Here,  Jack,  give  it  to  me." 
"No,  you'll  spoil  your  frock."    Miss  Samantha 
stood  looking  grimly  on  while  Jack  lifted  the 
cofFee-pot  to  its  place. 

"You  're  fortinit,  Lucy,  if  you  can  keep  your 
clothes  clean.  It  's  more  'n  some  other  folks 
can  do,  what  with  other  folks'  fast  drivin'  an' 
dust-slingin'." 

Jack  prudently  retired  to  a  stump  outside. 
"Sorry  I  ain't  got  a  cheer  to  offer,  Lucy,"  said 

Miss  Samantha,  now  quite  hospitable  ;  "  but 


58  JACK    RACER 

take  a  bucket."  And  she  turned  the  water- 
pail  upside  down. 

"  Yer  Aunt  Kiz  ain't  hyar,  Lucy  ?  " 
"No,  indeed.      You  know  Aunt  Kiz  has  n't 
any  faith  in  the  good  of  camp-meetings." 
"  Yer  Aunt  Kiz  is  by  natur'  a  doubter,  an'  she 
has  her  experience  grafted  on  to  that.      She 
met  Preacher  Rossiter  at  camp-meeting  an'  was 
brought  in  under  him.     Rossiter  was  powerful 
fur  awakenin'  sinners.    Aunt  Kiz  was  a  purty 
young  girl  with  a  neat  figger,  an'  wearin'  num- 
ber ones.      She  sot  a  good  deal  on  herself  an' 
that  made  her  fall  greater." 
"  I    don't    understand   you,   Miss    Samantha. 
What  do  you  mean  by  her  fall  ?  "      Lucy  got 
up   from    her    bucket,  which    rolled   off  the 
porch. 

"  Sho,  child,  sit  down  !  Why,  where  's  the 
bucket  ?  "  And  she  rescued  it  from  a  wander- 
ing pig  that  had  half  disappeared  inside  of  it. 
"  Is  it  possible  you  don't  know  ?  If  I  'd  a 
thought  that,   I  'd  a  bit  my  tongue  — " 


RELIGION  AND  FESTIVITY  59 
"Whatever  it  is,  I  know  it  is  n't  Aunt  Kiz's 
fault." 

"  Oh, gals  is  gals,  an'  it 's  the  natur'  of  wimmen 
to  run  after  the  preacher.  Rossiterwasrun  after 
oncommon,  but  there's  no  question  he  took 
to  Keziar.  They  was  promised  sweethearts 
an'  was  to  be  married  when  he  got  a  circuit 
of  his  own.  But  some  highflier  hearin'  him, 
an'  thinkin'  him  promisin',  sent  him  to  college 
somewhere  east  in  Ohio  to  git  trained,  an'  he 
got  trained  so  fur  an'  so  fast,  he  left  Keziar  in 
the  lurch,  at  least  he  never  remembered  to  send 
her  so  much  as  the  scratch  of  a  pen  after- 
ward. She  ain't  much  use  fur  means  of  grace 
since." 

"And  did  she  never  hear  of  him  again  ?  "  asked 
Lucv,  breathless  and  with  wide-open  eyes. 
"I   dunno.      She  never   let  on.      The  last   I 
heerd  of  him  he  had  a  fine  church   an'  a  fine 
ladv  in  Chicago." 

"  Then  that  is  what  has  made  Aunt  Kiz  so 
bitter,  so  funny  bitter,  I  mean.      We  like  it ; 


6o  JACK    RACER 

and    I    thought    it    was    to    make   us   laugh. 

Poor   Aunt    Kiz  !  "      Her    eyes    swam   with 

tears. 

"  Well,  Kiz  allays  did  see  the  rediclus  side  of 

things." 

"  I  don't  care  if  he  is  a  preacher,  he  is  a  mean, 

mean  man,  and  if  I  ever  see  him  I  '11  tell  him 

so.'^ 

"That's   right,  Lucy ;   and  I'll  tell   him   so 

too,"  shouted  Jack  from  his  stump. 

Miss  Samantha  raised    her  eyes  and    looked 

calmly  through  her  spectacles  into  vacancy. 

"  Yer  pot 's  biled,  Lucy." 

The  ravenous  party  was  grouped  about  the 
dinner-table. 

"Here,  Amzi,  come  take  the  coffee.  I'veboiled 
it." 

"  'I  've  boiled  it,'  indeed! "  cried  Anna.  "Why 
did  n't  you  boil  it  the  first  time  ?  I  'm  so 
hungr}'  that  I  've  devoured  in  my  mind  every- 
thing on  this  table." 


RELIGION  AND  FESTIVITY  61 
"  For  so  much  be  thanked,  Anna's  mind  is  n't 
as  large  as  her  mouth,"  said  Sam  Limecooly, 
solemnly. 

«  Nor  so  active,"  added  Jack,  seating  himself 
by  Miss  Burke's  side,  with  no  other  invita- 
tion than  the  sweeping  aside  of  her  volumi- 
nous draperies  as  he  appeared. 
"  I  'm  pretty  faint,  but  I  still  have  some 
strength  in  my  arms,"  was  Anna's  reply, 
flinging  at  each  a  phenomenal  pickle. 
The  wit  of  such  parties,  as  the  hunger,  is  not 
of  a  very  delicate  quality.  The  conversation 
was  chiefly  personal,  and,  for  the.  most  part, 
turned  on  the  respective  merits  of  one  an- 
other's appetites  ;  but,  such  as  it  was,  was 
greatly  enjoyed. 

"  Well,  really,  I  've  done  everything  to  divide 
this  chicken  but  put  my  foot  on  it." 
«  Do  stop,  Anna,"  Amzi  finally  begged  ;  "  I  'm 
too  full  to  laugh  any  more." 
"Then  why  don't  you  laugh  outside  .''  "  Jack 
asked,  plaintively. 


62  JACK    RACER 

"  There  's  your  friend,  Mr.  Racer."  Miss 
Burke  pointed  to  the  tall  form  of  the  elder 
coming  toward  them,  holding  an  ear  of  corn, 
which  from  time  to  time  he  lifted  with  sus- 
picion to  his  nose. 

"  What  is  the  old  fellow  about  ?  "  Jack 
jumped  to   his   feet. 

"  He  's  trying  to  tole  a  donkey,"  remarked 
Anna,  still  wrestling  with  her  chicken. 
"  Oh,  Miss  Anna,  you  are  always  so  exceed- 
ingly severe,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Triplow,  and 
was  about  to  continue  his  protestations  against 
the  severity  .of  her  sex,  when  the  elder  arrived. 
*■*■  Jackson,  I  'm  sorry  to  disturb  you  and  your 
young  friends.  I  thought  I  'd  bait  the  horse 
for  you,  and,  strangely,  the  beast  refused  his 
corn.  I  myself  have  observed  a  peculiar  smell 
about  it."  The  elder  lifted  it  again  to  his 
nose.  "  It  is  an  odor  not  altogether  disagree- 
able, but  very  stimulating  to  the  nostrils." 
Jack  took  the  ear  and  smelled  it ;  a  very  un- 
necessary act.     Meanwhile  the  color  stole  over 


RELIGION    AND    FESTIVITY    63 

his  face,  which  was  always  rather  pale,  and  by 

no  means  accustomed  to  blushing. 

"  As  you  say.  Elder,  it  is  peculiar.    The  mare 

won't  touch  the  corn  ?  You  're  good  to  trouble 

yourself  about  it  at  all.     I  '11  get  the  bait  from 

some   of  the  other   fellows.      Don't   bother. 

Elder." 

"  It 's  whiskey.     Soaked  in  whiskey."     Amzi 

examined  it  with  the  air  of  a  connoisseur. 

"  Now  that  you  mention  it,  I  do  observe  that 

strange  pungencythatbelongs  to  strong  drink." 

"  Sure  enough,  Elder.     The  solution,  I  think, 

is  plain,"  said  Jack,  hesitating  to  gain  time. 

"  Oh,  how  horrid  !   It 's  liquor,"  said  the  ladies 

in  succession,  each  having  touched  it  with  the 

tip  of  her  nose. 

"It  must  have  been  the  drive,"  continued  Jack. 

"  Whiskey,  you  know.  Elder,  is  nothing  but 

corn-juice.     It  must  have  been  the  drive." 

"  How  is  that,  Jackson  ?  " 

"  Don't  you  see.  Elder  ?     The  corn  was  loose 

in  the  box  and  we  drove  pretty  fast." 


64  JACK    RACER 

"  Ah,  I  see  ;  the  corn  has  been  bruised,  and 
the  juice  set  free.  But  —  I'd  no  idea  fer- 
mentation would  go  on  so  quickly."  The 
elder  looked  inquiringly. 
"  It 's  pretty  warm  to-day." 
"  Very  true.  Very  true.  A  singular  phenome- 
non." The  group  was  too  astonished  for 
speech,  and  the  elder  continued:  "There's 
one  point  I  'd  like  to  make,  my  young  friends. 
Touch  not,  nor  defile  you  lips  with  that  from 
which  an  ignorant  beast  turns  with  loathing. 
If  you  can  borrow  any  fodder,  Jackson,  I  '11 
go,  for  I  've  promised  to  take  a  snack  with 
Brother  Goby." 

"  Well,  I  call  that  the  finest  impromptu  I  ever 
heard,"  exclaimed  Anna,  as  the  elder  moved 
away. 

"  You  give  it  a  fine  name,  Anna." 
Jack  started  at  the  sound  of  Lucy's  voice. 
"  Look  here  ;   all  of  you.    I  'd  rather  lie  to  the 
elder  than  that  he  should  think  ill  of  me." 
*'  Why,  in  the  name  of  common  sense,"  asked 


RELIGION   AND    FESTIVITY    65 

Sam,  recovering  his  speech,  "  did  you  put  a 
bottle  of  whiskey  loose  in  the  box  ?  " 
"  I  did  n't.  Tom  Bruce  had  it  the  day  we 
went  to  the  Sparta  races,  and  I  forgot  all  about 
it.  The  bottle,  of  course,  broke,  and  I  suppose 
the  glass  was  ground  to  powder  in  the  melee. 
As  for  the  elder,  a  lie  more  or  less  won't  hurt 
me,  and  the  truth  would  have  pained  him." 
"  At  any  rate,  you  only  suggested  the  story, 
and  if  he  was  such  an  old  goose  as  to  swallow 
it  —  "     . 

"  Thank  you.  Miss  Burke,  for  your  charity. 
Now  and  then  I  do  feel  mean.  Limecooly, 
lend  me  some  fodder." 

"  Come,  Anna,  let  's  clear  the  things  away." 
Lucy  was  already  at  work,  and  the  two  young 
men  started  for  the  horses. 
The  group  lay  lazily  disposed  on  the  green 
turf  and  awaited  the  two  young  men. 
"  What  will  we  do  with  ourselves  this  after- 
noon ?  "  asked  Anna,  in  a  sleepy  voice,  her 
head  in  Irene's  lap. 

5 


66  JACK    RACER 

"  Suppose  we  tell  conundrums,  Miss  Anna." 
Will  Triplow  began  to  feel  for  his  pocket- 
book. 

"  I  think  we  ought  to  go  to  one  meeting," 
Lucy  stood  up,  and  Amzi  lifted  his  ponderous 
frame. 

"  Speak  for  yourself,  Lucy,  and  for  Amzi  if 
he  's  willing.  I  'm  not  going  into  the  tent." 
"  Conundrums  are  childish.  I  'm  going  to 
gather  lichens  to  finish  my  bracket.  Won't 
you  help  me,  Mr.  Racer  ?  " 
"  Oh,  Irene,  you  said  just  now  it  was  too 
warm  to  stir." 

"  So  it  is.     I  shall  sit  under  some  tree  and  Mr. 
Racer  will  gather  the  lichens." 
"Mr.  Racer  will,  of  course,  obey,"  sneered 
Anna. 

Jack  turned  from  watching  Lucy  and  Amzi  on 
their  way  to  the  tent. 

"  Mr.  Racer,  since  you  are  all  so  mighty  polite, 
will,  of  course,  obey  Miss  Burke.  Miss  Burke, 
at  your  service." 


RELIGION    AND    FESTIVITY    67 

"  Well,  I  call  this  a  nice  party.    Irene  Burke 
never  thinks  of  anybody  but  herself." 
"Miss   Anna,   there    are    some    entertaining 
young  ladies  here  from  Salem.      Suppose  we 
join  them,"  suggested  Mr.  Triplow. 
"  I  hate  the  Salem  girls,  they  are  such  an  airy 
set.      But,  laws,  you  need  n't   think  you  are 
bound  to  stay  here  with  me." 
"  You  go.  Will,"  said  the  amiable  Sam.    "I  '11 
stay  here  with  Anna,  and  we  '11  abuse  you  all 
in  turn."    Will  hastened,  and  Sam  sat  down  ; 
but,  except  in  philosophy,  it  must  be  confessed 
that  Mr.  Limecooly's  afternoon  was  not  fruit- 
ful. 


CHAPTER      FIVE 


Flirtation  is  Industriously  Fanned 

'ACK  and  Miss  Burke  wandered 
silently  away  into  the  depths  of 
the  timber.  Jack  led  the  way 
with  rapid  step  and  preoccupied 
air.  There  was  a  cloud  on  Irene's 
brow,  and  finally  she  dropped  breathless  among 
the  roots  of  a  wide-spreading  tree.  Jack, 
intent  on  his  occupation,  busied  himself  with 
great  zeal,  speaking  only  to  announce  some 
desirable  lichen  or  bit  of  moss. 
Miss  Burke  fanned  herself  in  silence  for  some 
time,  and  then  adjusted  her  position  with  great 
care.  Again  her  handsome  face  lowered.  At 
length  she  spoke. 

"  Do  come  and  sit  down,  Jack  ;  you  make  me 
nervous." 


72  JACK    RACER 

"  Why,  Irene,  I  thought  you  wanted  them." 

"  So  I  do,  but  I  did  n't  mean  to  be  unmerciful." 

"  I  am  at  your  service,  you  know." 

Jack  threw  the  little  basket  at  her  feet  and 

dropped  on  the  grass.      He  sat  silent  for  an 

instant,  and  then  stretched  himself  on  the  turf 

and  rested  his  head  on  his  hand.    Although  he 

lay  quite  near,  his  face  was  turned  away  and 

his  gaze  was  off  toward  the  golden  meadows. 

Plainly,  Miss  Burke  liked  this  arrangement  no 

better.      Her  face  grew  dark  again,  but  finally 

she  said,  sweetly  : 

"Jack,  I  looked  for  you  last  night;  and  you 

have  n't  told  me  why  you  did  n't  come." 

"  Have  n't  I  .''     Aunt  George  had  a  tea-fight 

and  made  a  point  of  my  staying  to  take  home 

the  wounded." 

"  I  was  sorry.      Mrs.  Maule  was  away,  and  I 

sat  on  the  porch  until  ten  o'clock  waiting  for 

you.      We  would  have  been  all  alone." 

"  By  Jove,  that  was  too  bad,"  exclaimed  Jack, 

without  turning  his  head.     "  But  I   had  the 


FLIRTATION    FANNED    73 

worst  of  it,  Irene.  I  can  imagine  you  look- 
ing distractinglv  beautiful  in  the  moonlight, 
but  can  you  imagine  me  tugging  along  the 
Sparta  road  with  an  elderly  femak  on  each 
arm  and  carrying  what  they  called  their  work  ? 
I  could  scarcely  see  over  it." 
Irene's  quick  ear  detected  that  Jack  was  mak- 
ing talk. 

"  But  why  did  n't  you  come  back  our  way  ? 
I  was  sitting  at  the  window  and  would  have 
seen  you  and  come  downstairs." 
"  You  would  have  driven  me  away  if  I  had 
dragged  myself  to  your  place.  I  had  tio  back- 
bone left.  You  've  no  idea  how  I  'd  been  bul- 
lied all  evening." 

Irene  leaned  forward  and  touched  him  on  the 
shoulder. 

"  Poor  Jack  !  If  you  had  come  to  me  I  would 
have  consoled  you." 

At  her  touch  Jack  turned  on  his  elbow  and 
looked  toward  the  tree  against  which  Irene 
leaned. 


74  JACK    RACER 

"  I  was  in  the  mood  to  have  played  the  Good 
Samaritan.  The  oil  and  bandages  were  near/' 
Jack  still  stared. 

"  Provided  the  right  man  fell  by  the  roadside, 
—  you,  Jack." 

"  By  Jove,  Irene,  you  are  a  beautiful  woman," 
said  the  young  man,  letting  her  light  talk  go  by. 
Miss  Burke  laughed  gleefully. 
"  You  always  say  that  as  if  you  had  made  a 
new  discovery." 
"  I  always  have." 

"  I  believe  you  do  forget  me,  Jack,  when  you 
are  away." 

Jack  did  not  answer,  but  continued  to  gaze. 
"  A  fair  return,  Jack.  You  are  the  only  com- 
panionable person  I  've  found  in  Pekin.  What 
would  I  have  done  without  you,  my  boy  !  " 
Jack  drew  himself  toward  her  on  the  grass, 
his  pale  face  growing  paler.  He  stretched  out 
his  arm  idly  and  caught  up  one  of  the  light 
ruffles  of  her  dress,  fingering  it  with  apparent 
interest,  but  without  speaking. 


FLIRTATION    FANNED    75 
Irene  watched  him  curiously.      Finally,  with 
some  consciousness,  Jack  said  : 
"  This  is  pretty  stuff.      Women's  clothes  are 
marvellous  to  me.      Yours,  Irene,  are  always 
like  a  cloud  from  which  you  seem  to  emerge. 
This  vapory,  frothy  stuff  is  not  calico,  is  it  ?  " 
Jack  asked,  with  sudden  thought. 
"  Calico,"  she  answered,  with  some  indigna- 
tion.    "You  ask  if  my  organdie  muslin  is  cal- 
ico.    Do  people  trim  calico  with  lace?  " 
"  Calico  is  nice,"  persisted  Jack. 
"  Calico  costs  eight  cents  a  yard,  and  this  forty 
cents.  You  see,  I  have  the  right  to  be  indignant, 
Jack.    I  would  n't  wear  calico  to  a  picnic." 
"  Don't  say   anything  against  calico,  Irene." 
Jack  put  his  fingers  in  his  ears  and  whirled 
himself  over,  but  with  too  much  energy,  for 
the  momentum  sent    him  rolling  to  the  foot 
of  the  hillside,  where  he  lay,  with  his  fingers 
still  in  his  ears. 

Irene  laughed    loudly  from    her    mossy  seat. 
Jack  made  no  motion  to  come  back,  but  still 


76  JACK    RACER 

lay  flat  on  the  grass,  looking  up  into  the  tree- 
tops. 

"  Come  back,  Jack.  I  '11  forgive  you." 
"  1  can't  get  up,"  answered  the  young  man, 
sprawling  like  a  school-boy.  " '  Facilis  descen- 
sus Averni  ; '  that  is  to  say,  it  is  easy  to  roll 
down  hill.  Everybody  knows  one  can't  roll 
back." 

Irene  paused,  with  moody  face.  This  was 
truly  uphill  work.  She  hesitated  for  some  mo- 
ments. 

"  I  Ml  come  help  you.  Jack." 
She  shook  out  her  draperies  and  started  lightly 
down  the  hillside.      Midway,   a  stray  bough 
caught  her  hair.     Jack  had  not  moved. 
"  I  'm  a  prisoner.  Jack.     You  '11  have  to  help 
me." 

Jack  looked  toward  her.  Irene  stood  on  tip- 
toe, with  her  fluffy  draperies  about  her,  trying 
to  release  her  hair.  Her  sleeves  had  fallen 
back,  baring  her  shapely  arms,  which,  uplifted, 
brought  into  clear  outlines  the  beautiful  curves 


FLIRTATION    FANNED    77 

of  her  undulating  form.    The  color  came  and 

went  in  her  face,  and  on  her  fell  the  sunlight 

filtered  through  the  leaves. 

"  How  unkind,  Jack,  when  I  was  coming  to 

your  relief,"  she  called  to  Jack,  still  on   his 

back,  and  rapturously  gazing  at  her. 

He  jumped  to  his  feet. 

"You  would  n't  say  so,  if  you  knew." 

She  dropped  her  arms  and  yielded  herself  to 

Jack,  whose  arms  encircled  her  head,  while  his 

slim,  muscular  fingers  broke  the  unruly  twigs. 

"  There,  you  are  free  ;  but    let  me  pick  the 

leaves  from  your  hair. 

Irene  did  not  move,  but  stood  with  bent  head, 

steadying  herself  by  resting  one  hand  on  Jack's 

arm,  while  he  slowly  gathered  the  leaves  from 

her  escaping  hair. 

They  were  all  gone,  but  still  he  stood. 

"  Thank  you,  Jack,"  Irene  said,  in  a  low  voice, 

and,  taking  his  hand,  went  back  to  her  seat 

beneath  the  tree.     They  sat  down  still   hand 

in  hand,  and  without  speaking. 


78  JACK    RACER 

After  some  moments  Irene  said  : 
"  Jack,  you  must  let  me  do  my  hair." 
Jack  unloosed  his  fingers,  and  buried  his  face 
in  his  hands.    Irene  twisted  up  her  hair,  looking 
the  while  at  Jack  with  a  curious  smile,  although 
her  face  yet  showed  some  traces  of  emotion. 
"  Oh,  it  won't  stay  up."      Down  fell  the  luxu- 
riant hair  about  her  shoulders.      "  There,  my 
comb  has  fallen  by  you,  Jack." 
Jack  picked  it  up. 

"No,"  as  she  held  out  her  hand, —  "let  me 
put  it  in."      He  took  up  the  long  coil  of  hair 
and  put  it  to  his  lips. 
"  Foolish  boy." 

With  some  skill,  he  wound  the  coil  about 
Irene's  well-shaped  head. 

"  Have  you  made  me  look  quite  like  a  fright  ?  " 
She  turned  her  smiling  face  toward  him  and 
looked  into  his,  with  eyes  softly  veiling  her 
triumph. 

For  answer  he  drew  her  toward  him  and 
kissed  her  beautiful  lips. 


FLIRTATION    FANNED    79 

"  Oh,  Jack,  suppose  somebody  saw  you." 

"  We  are  two  out  of  all  the  world.      The  rest 

are  dead,  gone,  forgotten." 

There  they  sat  until  the  long  shadows  sent  Mr. 

Triplow  calling  through  the  timber,  in  his  high 

tenor : 

"  Miss  Burke  !  oh,  Miss  Burke !  We  are  about 

departing." 

"Oh,  Jack,  there   is  that  silly  fellow.      I'm 

afraid  I  have  n't  been  very  polite." 

"  Don't  ask  me  to  blame  you,  Irene."      And 

together  they  started  toward  Mr.  Triplow's 

voice. 

In  the  evening  when  Lucy  went  to  her  room, 

she  drew  up  her  blind  to  let  in  the  full  tide  of 

moonlight,  for  her  candle  enticed  mosquitoes, 

which  were  of  an  unusually  long-billed  breed 

at  Pekin. 

As  she  stood  at  the  window,  two  figures  passed 

beneath. 

«  A  pair  of  sweethearts.     Why,  it 's  Jack  and 

Miss  Burke  ! " 


8o  J  A  C  K    R  A  C  E  R 

"Goodness  gracious,  Lucy,  ain't  you  in   bed 

yit?  I  was  tiptoein'  in  for  fear  I  'd  wake  you." 

"  I  'm  doing  my  hair,  Aunt  Kiz." 

Lucy  took  down  the  long  braids  and  began  to 

languidly  unplait  them. 

"  What 's  the  matter,  child  ?     Are  you  tired, 

or  has  somebody  been  sassin'  you  ?  " 

"  What  an  idea !    I  'm  only  tired."     She  was 

silent  a  moment.      "  I  do  believe,  Aunt  Kiz, 

that  ironing  is  n't  as  hard  work  as  enjoying 

yourself  when  you  've  laid  out  to  have  a  good 

time." 

"  Humph  !  You  're  young  to  have  found  that 

out.      But  since  you  have,  I  'm  not  surprised 

you  got  it  at  the  basket-meetin'." 


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CHAPTER      SIX 


VI 


Mr.  Racer's  Kindly  Relations  with  Several  Ladies 
Become  Apparent 

ON'T  you  tell  me  you  won't  do 
it,  Billy  Campbell  !  " 
Aunt  Kiz  said  this  as  she  was 
reversing  Billy  Campbell  from  a 
position  which  allowed  a  large 
proportion  of  blood  in  his  little  body  to  dis- 
color his  face. 

"  I  should  think  you  'd  be  ashamed  of  your- 
self to  whip  such  a  little  boy," 
Billy  had  backed  himself  up  against  the  wall 
before  venturing  this  remark,  and  looked  indig- 
nant reproach. 

"  Well,  I  'm  not,  and  if  you  tell  me  again  you 
•■won't  do  it,'  I'll  spank  you  if  Queen  Victory 
herself  is  here." 
"  No,  you  would  n't." 


84  JACK    RACER 

"  Yes,   I    would,   you    naughty    boy.       I  've 

whipped    your   father   before   you,   and    I  've 

whipped  Lucy,  and  I  '11  whip  you,  too." 

"  No,  you  would  n't.    If  I  'd  tell  you  '  I  won't 

do  it  '  before  a  strange  woman,  you  know  you 

would  n't   turn    me   up  and    show   my    dirty 

patched  breeches.     You  would  n't,  either." 

"Well,  I  could  mighty  soon  take  you  into  the 

back  kitchen." 

"That  wasn't  what  you  said.     You  know  it 

was  n't." 

"  Billy  Campbell,  why  don't  you  mind  your 

aunt  ?  "  cried  a  voice  of  exaggerated  sternness, 

from  the  window. 

*'  Coz  I  ain't  a  good  minder.  Jack  Racer." 

"  Is  that  you,  Jack  Racer  ?      I  ain't  see  hide 

nor  hair  of  you  for  a  coon's  age." 

"  I  've  been  asleep.  Aunt  Kiz.     There,  Billy, 

cut  and  run."     Jack  lifted  the  boy  out  of  the 

window. 

"  Yes,  asleep  ;   prowlin'  around  nights,  like  an 

owl." 


RELATIONS    WITH    LADIES   85 

"And,  likean  owl,  Ihave  to  sleepdays.    See?" 
Still,  young  Mr.  Racer  colored  slightly. 
"  I  heerd  of  vou  turnin'  the  basket-meetin'  into 
a  horse-race." 

"  Look  here,  Aunt  Kiz,  I  'm  not  going  to  let 
vou  bully  nie.  Beside,  we  're  in  the  same 
cait." 

"I  race  horses,  do  I  ?  "    • 
"No, but  Mahala  Plylev  says  you  're  the  Achan 
in  the  camp." 

"  Who  's  he  ?  I  heerd  she  gave  you  a  dress- 
in'." 

Jack  leaped  into  the  room  through  the  window, 
and  thev  laughed  the  laugh  of  the  unregener- 
ate,  which  was  loud  and  long. 
"  Oh,  what  a  noise  !  "  Lucy  opened  the  door, 
broom  in  hand.  On  her  head  was  a  blue  sweep- 
ing cap,  with  a  nodding  frill  framing  a  bright 
young  face.  Her  sleeves  were  rolled  above  the 
dimpled  arms  and  a  checked  gingham  apron, 
such  as  the  young  ladies  of  Pekin  copy  out  of 
the  Designer^  the  Decorator  and  the  Ladies'  Bou- 


86  JACK    RACER 

doh\,  covered  her  dress,  which  was  neatly  tucked 
up  — a  picturesque  costume,  which  tends  to  re- 
duce domestic  work  to  merely  an  opportunity. 
"  Does  n't  she  look  formidable,  Aunt  Kiz  ?  Is 
that  a  weapon  of  offence  ?  " 
"  This  is  sweeping  day,  Jack.  I  always  clear 
the  room." 

"  Polite,  is  n't  she  ?  "  Jack  nodded  to  Aunt 
Kiz.  "  Lucy,  let  me  help."  He  seized  the 
broom  and  began  sweeping,  at  least  with  zeal. 
Aunt  Kiz  prudently  gathered  up  her  stockings 
and  retired  with  her  chair  to  the  sidewalk, 
where  she  was  out  of  the  dust  and  could  ex- 
change crisp  comments  with  the  passers-by. 
"  Oh,  Jack,  what  a  dust  you  make  !  Don't 
sweep  except  where  I  've  sprinkled  tea  leaves," 
Lucy  cried,  walking  before  him,  and  dropping 
from  her  finger-tips  the  fragrant  tea.  "No, 
that  is  n't  the  way."  She  paused,  watching  him 
critically. 

"  Pshaw  !   Anybody   can    sweep.      What  you 
want  to  do  is  to  get  the  dirt  out." 


RELATIONS   WITH    LADIES    87 

"  But  there  areways  and  ways.  Hold  the  broom 
straight.      Here." 

"  Is  n't  that  the  way  I  do  ?  "  exclaimed  Jack, 
ruefully. 

"  Not  if  I  am  a  judge."  Jack  admitted  to  him- 
self admiration  of  Lucy's  quick,  even  strokes. 
"  I  believe  there  is  a  trick  in  it,"  he  said  aloud. 
"  But,  Lucy,  you  '11  spoil  your  hands.  You 
ought  to  wear  gloves." 

"  Don't  you  be  puttin'  notions  in  Lucy's  head," 
shouted  Aunt  Kiz  from  the  pavement.  "  Sweep- 
in',  an'  plenty  of  it,  is  good  for  gals.  Makes 
'em  healthy." 

«  It  will  round  out  the  arms,"  said  Mr.  Racer, 
thoughtfully. 

"  If  you  only  would  move  the  sewing  machine. 
Jack.  That  would  be  a  help.  But  don't,  oh. 
Jack,  don't  open  all  the  doors  !  It  keeps  the 
dust  so  —  so  undecided." 
"  How  she  orders  a  fellow  about.  Does  she 
always  have  her  own  way  ?  " 
"  Aunt  Kiz  will  see  the  joke  of  that." 


88  JACK    RACER 

"Just  look  how  you  walked  away  with  Miss 
Samantha." 

"  Do  you  know,  I  saw  her  coming  down  the 
street  a  little  while  ago  with  her  arms  full  of 
bundles.  They  stuck  out  in  every  direction, 
until  she  looked  just  like — just  like  a  hat- 
rack." 

"  Yes,"  called  Aunt  Kiz,  "  and  she  turned  the 
corner  instead  of  comin'  past ;  I  'd  a  thought 
she  was  mad  if  she  had  n't  sent  in  yesterday  and 
borried  the  tubs.  I  think  it  was  grocery  things 
she  had,  from  the  shape  of  the  bundles.  I 
expect  she  's  goin'  to  have  company  and  ain't 
goin'  to  give  us  an  invite,  since  she  went  down 
pump  way,  and  this  is  a  half  square  nigher." 
"  I  know  she  won't  ask  me,"  said  Jack,  mourn- 
fully. "  I  regret  to  say  that  lady  flouts  me. 
I  wonder  why  ?  I  never  did  her  any  harm." 
"  Maybe  you  did  her  a  favor ;  that  '11  serve,  with 
some  folks,"  said  Aunt  Kiz,  grimly. 
"I  can't  say  I  ever  particularly  obliged  her, 
either.      But  that  would  n't   be  a  satisfactory 


RELATIONS    WITH    LADIES    89 

reason  for  treating  me  like  the  dust  beneath 
her  commodious  carpet-slippers." 
"  What  are  you  but  a  worm   of  the  dust  ? " 
retorted  Aunt  Kiz. 

"I  '11  be  an  anaconda,  if  you  like;  but  don't 
be  so  disagreeable  in  your  choice  of  crawling 
things." 

"Jack,"  said  Lucy,  emerging  from  a  corner, 
where  she  had  been  on  her  knees  with  a  tur- 
key-wing, "you  like  it." 
"  Like  being  called  a  caterpillar  ?  " 
"  Oh,  you  know  what  I  mean.  You  enjoy  the 
estimation  in  which  you  are  held  by  Miss 
Samantha,  Mahala  Plyley,  and  the  rest  of  the 
good  people.  You  've  earned  it.  At  least,  I 
mean  you  try  to  make  them  think  you  've 
earned  it." 

"  You  've  chopped  that  up  fine.  Just  listen  to 
her.  Aunt  Kiz  !  " 

Jack  was  sitting  on  the  corner  of  the  table, 
swinging  a  slender  leg.  Lucy  came  up  and 
stood   before  him.      Both   hands  clasped   the 


90  JACK    RACER 

broom-handle  and  her  chin  rested  on  her  hands. 
One  slippered  foot  crossed  the  other  and  stood 
on  its  toe,  in  a  manner  quite  captivating  to  Jack, 
who  at  first  gave  less  heed  to  her  words. 
"  This  is  what  I  mean,"  said  Lucy,  speaking 
very  slowly,  and  with  a  thoughtful  look  directed 
toward  some  far-away  source,  where  her  ideas 
seemed  to  be  stored,  "  when  you  talk  to  them 
you  make  your  words  very  meek  and  humble, 
and  then  you  put  an  expression  on  your 
face  which  takes  all  the  humility  out  of  the 
words." 

"  Well,  now  !  You  know  I  did  n't  think  I  was 
that  kind  of  a  fellow  —  to  have  everything  so 
cut  and  dried,  I  mean.  I  'd  really  like  to  see 
that  expression." 

"•'  Jack,"  cried  Aunt  Kiz,  "  get  a  fan  like  Laury 
Francis's,  with  a  looking-glass  in  the  stick.  I 
see  her  in  church  looking  after  her  crinkles. 
You  could  keep  it  in  your  pistol  pocket." 
"Do!  One  with  white  feathers,"  laughed 
Lucy,  and  went  back  to  her  corners. 


RELATIONS  WITH  LADIES  91 
This  did  not  please  Jack,  who  was  thinking  it 
a  fine  thing  to  be  lectured  by  a  slip  of  a  girl. 
"  But,  seriously,  Lucy,  I  'm  not  conscious  of 
what  you  say.  It  is  n't  my  words,  but  my  face  ? 
That  comes  of  having  no  whiskers  to  hide  be- 
hind," he  added,  ruefully.  "  And  it  won't  rub 
off."  He  drew  out  a  fine  cambric  handker- 
chief, which  was  also  one  of  his  affectations, 
and  showed  her  no  results  of  vigorous  polishing. 
But  Lucy  did  not  seem  sufficiently  amused. 
"  If  you  could  only  describe  it,"  he  said. 
"  Will  Triplow  would  call  it  '  slightly  supe- 
rior.'" 

"  Heaven  knows,  I  don't  feel  it.  Well,  yes, 
I  do,  in  a  sort  of  way,"  he  added,  with  mild 
conceit. 

"  Yes,  you  are  superior  in  some  things.  It 's 
a  question  of  values."  And  Lucy  returned  to 
her  work. 

Jack  was  alarmed  lest  he  was  not  going  to  hear 
any  more  about  himself. 
"  Now,  that  is  n't  fair,  Lucy.      You  bring  an 


92  JACK     RACER 

awful  charge  against  me,  and  then  go  oft'  calmly 

to  grub  for  a  little  soulless  dirt." 

Lucy  apparently  gave  no  attention.     Suddenly 

she  looked  up. 

"  I  'ra  not  sorry  I  'm  a  woman,  but  I  think  it 

would  be  a  great  thing  to  be  a  man.      Men  are 

so  big  and  strong  that  the  whole  world  belon2;s 

to  them.     A  man  can  go  anywhere  he  chooses 

and  he  can  do  anything  he  wants." 

Jack  nodded  to  Aunt  Kiz,  as  much  as  to  say 

"  That's  all  she  knows  about  it,"  but  he  was 

careful  to  interrupt  with  no  comments.     Lucy 

did  not  pause. 

"  When  he  knows  what  he  wants  to  do  most, 

he  can  give  all  his  life  solidly  to  it,  until  it  goes 

through  and  through  him  and  gets  to  be  a  part 

of  him. 

"Jack,"  she  said,  dragging  her  broom  after  her, 

for  she  had  got  up  as  she  spoke,  and  coming  up 

again  before  him,  "you  remember  what  a  low, 

miserable  fellow  Jake  Raum  was  before  his 

brother  was  killed  by  the  hay  press  and  left  the 


RELATIONS   WITH    LADIES    93 

care  of  his  old  mother  to  Jake  ?  Do  you  re- 
member how  he  went  to  work  and  stinted  him- 
self for  his  mother,  because  people  would  n't 
trust  him  and  he  could  n't  earn  much  ?  Now, 
that  devotion  and  that  self-denial  shine  all  over 
his  face.  Everybody  sees  it  and  respects  him. 
I  think  it  was  a  fine  thing  for  a  man  to  really 
make  himself  over  out  of  a  noble  purpose." 
Jack  hopped  down  from  the  table. 
"  You  're  a  brick,  Lucy.  Good-bye.  Good- 
bye, Aunt  Kiz." 

"  Where  ye  goin'.  Jack  Racer  ?  You  're  drag- 
gin'  my  yarn  after  ye." 

"  To  clean  my  face.     Lucy  's  been  telling  me 
how." 

Lucy  resumed  her  work  with  less  alacrity. 
Sweeping  seemed  a  tamer  occupation  than  she 
had  thought  it  some  minutes  before. 
"  Jack  thinks  I  was  lecturing  him.  I  wish  I  'd 
held  my  tongue,"  she  said  to  herself. 
Jack  went  down  the  street  to  his  room  with 
less  than  his  usual  jaunty  air. 


94  JACK    RACER 

"  She  hit  it  off  pretty  neatly,"  he  finally  ex- 
claimed ;  then  added,  more  cheerfully,  "  I  like 
to  see  a  girl  twirl  herself  about  so  daintily." 
From  which  it  was  evident  that  Jack's  mind 
had  veered  toward  its  usual  bearings,  and  he 
went  whistling  to  his  room. 


CHAPTER      SEVEN 


VII 

A  Thrilling  Catastrophe  Breaks  Down 

'ACK'S  room  was  in  the  upper  story 
of  Lawyer  George's  office,  which 
was  a  small  frame  building  in  the 
corner  of  his  yard,  opening  directly 
on  the  street.  It  was  chosen  by 
Jack  that  neither  tobacco  smoke  nor  boots 
might  defile  Aunt  George's  carpets  and  cur- 
tains. It  was  pre-eminently  the  room  of 
a  young  gentleman  of  liberal  tastes.  One 
corner  was  burdened  with  a  variety  of  hunt- 
ing implements.  A  rack  of  pipes  ornamented 
one  side.  The  broad  top  of  an  old-fashioned 
bureau  that  once  belonged  to  his  mother  served 
as  a  buffet.  On  this  were  several  decanters, 
with  attendant  glasses.  These  had  been  bought 
with  great  circumstance  by  Jack  at  county  fairs, 
and  of  glass  peddlers,  and  always  before  an  au- 
7 


98  JACK    RACER 

dience  which  had  spread  each  purchase  far  and 
wide. 

Jack's  works  of  art  consisted  of  numerous 
highly-colored  pictures  of  famous  race-horses 
and  of  portraits  of  famous  danseuses  in  phenom- 
enal attitudes.  Of  the  famous  danseuses  Jack 
knew  little  and  cared  less  ;  but  they  belonged 
to  the  ostentatious  character  of  the  room. 
There  were  many  young  men  in  Pekin  who 
would  not  have  been  seen  coming  out  of  Jack 
Racer's  room  in  daylight.  Jack  remarked,  with 
some  satisfaction,  that  this  saved  him  from 
intrusion.  Amzi,  Sam  Limecooly,  and  Will 
Triplow  had  more  courage.  But  they  were 
always  prepared  to  defend  themselves  from 
the  assumption  that  they  had  been  having  a 
private  orgy  in  Jack  Racer's  "  scan'lous  room, 
hung  round  with  awful  pictures  an'  a  barrel 
of  whiskey  in  the  corner." 
Jack  took  much  delight  in  his  room.  There 
were  outside  stairs  in  the  rear.  But  Jack  had 
now  come  through  the  office,  and  brought  up 


THRILLING   CATASTROPHE    99 

with  him  several  large  books.  Throwing  him- 
self on  the  lounge,  he  opened  one  of  the  books 
and  read  with  apparent  interest  for  some  time, 
until  he  heard  a  scratching  of  gravel  outside, 
interrupted  by  a  dry  cough. 
"  Bv  Jove  !  "  Jack  jumped  up  and  the  books 
tumbled  behind  the  lounge.  "  I  promised 
Aunt  George  to  help  her  with  the  beds.  Well, 
'  Story  on  Equity'  can  wait.  I've  got  enough 
for  one  dose.  My  mind  is  n't  hefty." 
"  I  'm  coming.  Aunt  George,"  He  ran  down 
the  rear  stairs.  "  Why  did  n't  you  wait  for 
me  ?  My  memory  runs  away,  but  it  comes 
back,  like  Bo  Peep's  sheep,  sooner  or  later, 
with  all  its  appurtenances." 
"  I  did  n't  know  you  were  there,  Jack,  or  I 
would  have  called.  Idle  fellow  !  I  suppose 
you  have  been  asleep.  I  should  think  you  'd 
need  it." 

"  Ground  in,"  thought  Mr.  Racer,  Outwardly, 
he  rubbed  his  eyes,  as  if  to  get  thoroughly 
awake  for  the  business  in  hand. 


100  JACK    RACER 

Mrs.  George,  his  uncle's  wife,  was  a  childless 
woman  addicted  to  neatness  and  the  keeping 
of  flowers.  She  was  considered  aristocratic  in 
Pekin,  inasmuch  as  an  asthmatic  tendency  kept 
her  from  much  visiting,  and  also  necessitated 
plenty  of  help  ;  and  by  the  further  fact  that 
she  had  her  dresses  made  in  Chicago.  This 
was  merely  a  matter  of  convenience,  as  her 
sister,  having  her  own  seamstress,  took 
the  burden  of  deciding  the  fashions  for 
Mrs.  George  and,  in  this  way,  also  mitigated 
her  own  expenses.  But  Mrs.  George,  be- 
ing a  reticent  woman,  had  never  gone  into 
these  details,  and  with  this  Pekin  was  unac- 
quainted. 

She  was  very  fond  of  her  husband's  nephew, 
but  this  was  rather  by  way  of  her  husband,  the 
latchets  of  whose  ties  she  adored.  Her  hus- 
band responded  with  a  tenderness  of  manner 
and  an  ample  weekly  allowance.  But  further 
than  the  vestibule  of  his  heart  Mrs.  George 
did  not  seem  to   have  entered.      Of  this  she 


THRILLING    CATASTROPHE    loi 

was  ignorant,  and  was  well  content  with  his 
consideration  and  her  spending-money. 
Really,    taking    things    matrimonial    by    and 
large,  she  might  well  be  content ;   for,  while 
most  of  the  married  women  in  Pekin  had  the 
average  amount  of  affection  from  faithful  hus- 
bands, they  usually  did  their  own  work,  made 
their  own  dresses,  had  no  private  purses,  and 
received  scant  conjugal  courtesy. 
"Jack,  I  want  to  sink  this  pot  of  amaryllis. 
The  bloom  shows  so  finely  it  seemed  a  pity 
not  to  bring  it  out.      Your  uncle  thought  so, 
too.      It's  usually  such  a  shy  bloomer." 
"  *•  Shy  bloomer. '      That 's  a  good  way  to  de- 
scribe a  girl  I  know." 

"Who  is  it,  Jack  ?  "  Mrs.  George,  like  most 
childless  women,  had  much  interest  in  affairs 
of  the  heart,  and  her  conversation  with  Jack 
usually  ran  on  some  phase  of  love,  as  exem- 
plified by  different  Pekin  couples.  Jack  him- 
self would  have  preferred  wider  generaliza- 
tions. 


I02  JACK    RACER 

"  You  're  not  going  to  have  any  secrets  from 
your  old  aunt  ?  "  Not  that  Mrs.  George  con- 
sidered herself  old,  but  she  regarded  the  ad- 
jective as  peculiarly  coaxing. 
"  Celia  Blagden.  You  don't  know  her."  This 
was  by  no  means  the  truth.  But  Jack  had 
found  he  could  bridge  an  emergency  in  this  way 
much  more  safely  than  he  could  evade  pressing 
questions.  His  ready  mind  easily  created  Miss 
CeliaBlagden,and  he  rather  enjoyed  her  prompt 
existence. 

"  Did  you  get  acquainted  with  her  at  Springfield, 
when  you  were  reading  with  Squire  Edwards  ? 
Do  tell  me  about  it,"  Mrs.  George  asked  with 
active  sympathy.  But  this  Jack  pretended  not 
to  hear.  Though  his  conscience  was  of  an 
elastic  sort,  he  could  not  stretch  it  to  give  a  lie 
its  circumstance.  Such  subtle  distinctions  in- 
here in  every  one's  morality  and  create  indi- 
vidual standards  which  would  be  difficult  of 
ethical  explanation. 
Instead  of  answering  Jack  stretched   out  his 


THRILLING    CATASTROPHE    103 

arm,  buried  the  tips  of  his  fingers  in  the  soft 
mold,  and  drew  them  along. 
"  Look,  Aunt  George,  what  a  capital  weeder 
mv  hand  would  make,"  imitating  the  little  iron 
implement  his  aunt  wielded. 
"  You  have  long,  slim  fingers,  like  your  uncle. 
Your  uncle  has  beautiful  hands,  but  he  's  very 
modest  about  them.  I've  admired  them  so 
much  he  has  stopped  making  gestures  when  he 
talks." 

While  Mrs.  George  and  her  nephew  were  en- 
tertaining one  another  thus  placidly,  more  ex- 
citing events  were  taking  place  elsewhere. 
Miss  Burke  and  Anna  Ross,  coming  out  of  the 
milliner's,  met  Billy  Campbell  running  down 
the  street. 

"  Have  you  seen  Bob  Wally  ?  " 
"No." 

"  Then  he  must  be  drowned.    Boy  drowned  !  " 
Billv  began  to  shout  and  run.  "  Boy  drowned  !  " 
Anna  caught  him  by  the  shoulders. 
«  Billy,  where  ?  " 


104  JACK     RACER 

"  Jones's  mill.      I  'II  go  show  you." 

"  No.      Go  give  the  alarm,  and  wc  '11  run  to 

the  mill." 

The  girls  started  to  run.      Miss  Samantha  saw 

them  from  her  window  and  ran  across. 

"  What  is  it,  girls  ?     Has  Billy  Campbell  been 

hookin'  anything  ? " 

"  Bob  Wally  's  in  the  branch." 

"  Goodness  gracious !  "  Miss  Samantha  twisted 

up  her  hair  and  ran  after  the  girls  as  fast  as  her 

carpet-slippers  would  allow. 

"  Mis'  Bergan,"  she  screamed  over  a  back  fence 

where  that  lady  was  washing,  "  Bob  Wally  's 

in  the  branch  !  " 

Mrs.  Bergan  dropped  her  clothes  and  wiping 

the  suds  from  her  arms  with  her  apron,  climbed 

over  the  fence. 

"  Wait,  can't  ye,  Samanthy  ?      Mussy,  1  ain't 

got  no  bunnit."  Mrs.  Bergan  untied  her  apron 

as  she  ran,  and  tied  it  over  her  head. 

"  In  the  branch.      Mussy  me  !   How  we  are 

snatched.     Oh,  Mis'  Cain,  Mis'  Cain  !   Bob 


THRILLING    CATASTROPHE    105 

Wally  's  drowned  in  the  branch."  Mrs.  Cain 
was  trying  on  a  dress  body,  but  she  snatched 
a  shawl,  buttoning  her  dress  as  she  ran,  and 
her  daughter,  ironing  in  the  back  room,  joined 
the  procession  with  her  iron-holder  in  her  hand. 
Down  the  side  streets  people  ran,  not  knowing 
what  was  the  matter,  but  confident  that  any- 
thing was  worth  running  after,  since  stirring 
events  were  few.  In  a  little  while  half  the  pop- 
ulation of  Pekin  was  on  its  way  to  Jones's  mill. 
"  If  I  was  Mis'  Wally,"  said  Miss  Samantha, 
"  I  'd  put  off  the  funeral  until  Sunday.  Mr. 
Sparkins  might  let  up  on  Sunday  school.  Bob 
was  a  member,  I  suppose." 
"  I  don't  know.  Mis'  Wally  was  n't  very  con- 
scientious in  her  trainin'.  The  children  always 
went  nearin'  Christmas  and  festivals,  an'  Mis' 
Wally  made  as  much  fuss  as  them  that  went 
reg'lar  if  her  children  did  n't  git  as  much  as 
other  people's.  It's  fort'nit  she  got  her  new 
rag  carpet  home  from  Nance  Weaver's.  You 
an'  me,  S'manth',  might  help  her  git  it  down 
for  the  funeral." 


io6  JACK    RACER 

"What  in  mercy's  name  are  you  luggin'  that 
board  for,  Mis'  Bergan  ?  " 
*'  I  thought  it  might  do  to  throw  to  the  little 
feller." 

"  They  've  got  more  boards  than  water  at  the 
mill,   I'd  have  thought  you  'd  a-known  that." 
Jack  threw  up  the  handful  of  dirt  he  had  gath- 
ered.     "  Look  at   the   people,  Aunt  George. 
What's  up?"      Mrs.  George  shook  the  dirt 
from  her  dress  and  ran  to  the  fence. 
"Where  are  those  people  running  to,  Mr.  Lime- 
cooly  ? "  she  asked  of  Sam  hurrying  past. 
"  Somebody  says  Billy  Campbell  has  fallen  into 
the  water  at  Jones's  mill." 
Jack  gave  a  leap  across  the  fence. 
*'  I  'm  ofF,  Limecooly." 

With  long  strides  Jack  gained  on  the  crowd, 
and  hurried  past.  By  this  time  Irene  and  Anna 
had  reached  the  spot  with  Billy  Campbell,  who 
alone  caught  Jack's  attention. 
"  Billy  Campbell,  you  limb,  are  you  safe  ?  I 
came  to  fish  you  out." 


THRILLING    CATASTROPHE    107 

"  Jack,"  said  Billv,  with  long  breaths,  for  he 

was  very  tired,  "  I  thinic  Bob  Wally  must  be 

drowned." 

"  How,  Billy  ?     Tell  me,  this  instant !  " 

"  Bob  Wallv  an'  me  was  playin'  on  that  very 

log.      An'  I  went  into  the  field  to  git  a  pole 

an'  when  I  come  back  Bob  was  n't  there,  an' 

I  guessed  he's  drowned." 

"  What  in,  you  little  imp  ?    There  is  n't  water 

enough,  or  I  'd  duck  you." 

Irene  and  Anna  looked  at  the  dried-up  stream, 

then  at  the  procession  hurrying  pellmell  up  the 

street,   and   sat  down  on  the  log,  weak  with 

hysterical  laughter. 

In  the  rear  of  all  came  Bob  Wally,  his  freckled 

face  streaming  with  perspiration. 

"  Why,  Billy  Campbell !  "  he  cried.     "  They 

telled  me  you  was  drownded." 

Down  one  street  came  the  Campbells  and  up 

another  ran    the   Wallys,  and   fell   upon  the 

children   with  kisses   and  blows. 

"  Billy,  you  precious  limb  !  "  said  Aunt  Kiz, 

weeping  over  him,  after  a  final  spank. 


io8  JACK    RACER 

"  What  are  you  making  such  a  fuss  over 
Bob  Wally's  drowning  ? "  inquired  Billy, 
with  some  severity,  after  struggling  to  free 
himself.  "  Bob's  got  a  lot  of  folks  to  cry  for 
him." 

"  I  thought  it  was  you,  Billy,"  answered  the  old 
woman,  humbly. 

"  Oh,  is  that  all  ?  "  said  Billy,  mollified.  "  I 
would  n't  have  drowned.  I  'd  a  just  struck 
out  for  shore." 

The  crowd  now  slowly  sauntered  back  to  town, 
full  of  lively  talk,  but  with  an  unavowed  sense 
ot  disappointment.  A  break  in  the  montony 
of  so  small  a  town  is  too  grateful  to  be  relin- 
quished without  regret.  If  the  unhappy  acci- 
dent had  really  occurred,  both  the  Wallys  and 
the  Campbells  would  have  had  the  unstinted 
sympathy  and  assistance  of  the  whole  town  in 
accompanying  it  to  its  inevitable  end.  But 
even  these  sad  services  would  have  carried  with 
them  over  several  days  an  agreeable  and  stimu- 
lating excitement. 


THRILLING   CATASTROPHE    109 

"  What  shall  we  do  with  ourselves  ?  "   cried 
Anna.  "  I  'm  as  limp  as  a  rag.    I  can't  go  back 
to  my  sewing." 
Jack  had  joined  the  two  girls. 
Irene  slowly  raised  her  beautiful   eyes  to  the 
young  man  standing  before  her,  while  a  lovely, 
mysterious  smile  hovered  on  her  lips. 
"  Have  pity  on  us,  Jack,"   continued  Anna. 
"  Our  occupation  's  gone.    I  'd  nerved  myself 
to  break  the  sad   news  to  Mrs.  Wally,  and  I 
can't  think  of  anything  that  will  let  me  down 
safely  but  a  dish  of  ice  cream." 
"Amzi's  rig  is  hitched  at  Sam  Limecooly's 
store  and  we  '11  find  him  somewhere  near.    Sup- 
pose we  capture  him  ;  I  '11  get  Fancy,  and  we  'U 
go  over  to  Sparta,  have  supper,  and  come  home 
by  moonlight.      How  will  that  compensate  for 
Mrs.  Wally's  affliction  ?  "   • 
Jack  turned  to  Anna,  for,  although  he  had  been 
talking  to  her,  his   gaze  had  not  left  Irene's 
face. 
Anna  knew  that  she  was  destined  to  Amzi's 


no  JACK    RACER 

companionship,  but  in  any  case  she  felt  a  sense 
of  rescue,  and  gave  a  glad  submission  to  Jack's 
proposition.  With  but  little  delay  the  two 
buggies  were  whirling  along  the  Sparta  road,and 
at  midnight,  under  the  white  moonlight,  with 
loosened  rein.  Fancy  came  slowly  home. 


CHAPTER      EIGHT 


VIII 

The  Campbell  Family's  Views  of  Current  Events 

HE  Campbells'  supper  was 
late.  Air.  Campbell  had 
gone  over  to  Sparta  to  sup- 
ply a  missing  piece  of  the 
hay  press,  and  the  B.  M. 
&  H.,  as  it  was  familiarly  called,  took  no  ac- 
count of  Pekin's  six  o'clock  supper.  It  was, 
accordingly,  set  for  so  late  an  hour  as  half-past 
seven,  for  in  Pekin  "  men  folks  "  are  regarded 
as  the  only  convincing  reason  for  heating  a 
kitchen  stove.  If  Mr.  Campbell  had  stayed 
one  night  in  Sparta,  his  wife.  Aunt  Kiz,  and 
Lucy  would  have  taken  their  supper  from  their 
hands  on  the  back  steps,  Billy  being  not  yet 
old  enough  to  require  a  table  set. 
The  supper  table  was  more  than  usually  laden, 
the  lateness  of  the  hour  and  Mr.  Campbell's 
s 


114  JACK    RACER 

trip  making  it  a  special  occasion.  There 
were  ham  and  eggs  and  fried  potatoes,  cold 
corn  and  beans  left  from  dinner,  hot  biscuit, 
smear  case,  pickles,  blackberry  jam  and  water- 
melon preserves,  two  kinds  of  cake,  and 
coffee. 

The  late  supper  was  freely  partaken  of  by 
Billy,  who  prospered  under  it  to  the  extent 
of  a  second  cup  of  coffee  to  finish  his  third 
piece  of  cake. 

It  was  not  usual  to  talk  much  at  the  Camp- 
bells' table  until  the  close  of  the  meal.  Mr. 
Campbell,  now  taking  up  a  piece  of  cake,  was 
conversationally  inclined.  Tipping  his  chair 
back  against  the  wall,  he  ate  leisurely,  lapping 
up  the  crumbs,  as  they  fell  on  his  shirt-front, 
with  his  tongue. 

Billy  watched    him  closely.      Then,  making, 
with   difficulty,  a  crumb  lodge  on   his  calico 
blouse,  endeavored  to  imitate  his  father's  skill 
in  removing  it  to  his  mouth. 
Aunt  Kiz  pointed  at  him,  and  chuckled  silently. 


THE   CAMPBELL    FAMILY    115 

"  Sho,  Billy,  you  '11  have  to  wait  until  you  're 

a  man  to  do  that,"  said  his  father. 

Billy  made  another  supreme  effort,  turning  his 

eyes  almost  out  in  order  to  see  his  tongue. 

"  Father,   can    you    see  your   tongue  ?  "    he 

panted. 

"  Pretty  near  a'most." 

"  Aunt  Kiz  says  God  can  see  everything,  so  I 

reckon   he  can  see  his  tongue ;   but  I  bet  he 

can't  see  his  own  ears." 

Mrs.  Campbell,  holding  one  hand  to  her  cheek, 

walked  around  and  gave  Billy  a  box  on  the  ear. 

Billv  started  up,  but  found  the  pain  mitigated 

in  seeing  Aunt  Kiz  laugh  silently  and  observ- 

ing  the  drawn  lines  about  his  father's  mouth. 

"  Billy,"    said   Lucy,    severely,   "  you    are    a 

naughty,  irreverent  boy." 

"  What 's  that  long  word  ?  " 

"  Something  not  very  good." 

"  Did  you  get  it  out  of  the  Bible  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Then  T  'm  not  afraid  of  it." 


ii6  jack:   racer 

"  Billy  !  "  It  was  now  Aunt  Kiz's  turn,  for  in 
Pekin  admonition  was  handed  around  the  cir- 
cle, as  a  part  of  domestic  etiquette.  "  Do  you 
know  what  '11  become  of  vou  if  you  don't  mend 
your  wavs  ?  " 

"  Yes.  I  '11  have  to  go  to  church  twice  on  Sun- 
days." 

"  That  won't  save  vou.     You  Ml  go  straight 
down  to  the  bottomless  pit." 
"  Pooh ! "  said  Billv,  in  some  contempt.  "  That 
won't  hurt.     There  's  nothing  there  to  strike 
against." 

Mr.  Campbell  slapped  his  knee  with  such  force 
that  his  chair  came  down  with  a  thud,  and  set 
the  dishes  jumping  ;  but  Mrs.  Campbell  made 
the  tour  of  the  table  again,  with  uplifted  ma- 
ternal hand. 

"  None  of  vou  talk  to  this  bad,  bad  boy  any 
more.  D'  ve  hear  ?  Billy,  not  another  word 
out  of  vour  mouth." 

Billy  remained  silent,  but  he  knew  he  was  mas- 
ter of  the  occasion. 


THE  CAMPBELL  FAMILY  117 
"  What  's  Jack  Racer  doin'  so  much  down 
at  Sparty,  nowadays  ?  I  saw  him  gallivantin' 
Irene  Burke  into  an  ice-cream  parlor  as  I  was 
goin'  around  the  Palace  Block." 
"  It  seems  to  me  I  heard  Irene  had  music 
scholars  twice  a  week  over  there,"  replied  Mrs. 
Campbell. 

"Ho,  ho!  Then  that  settles  it.  Jack  ain't 
got  anything  better  to  do  than  dangle  around 
fine  lookin'  wimmen." 

"I  have  n't  seen  Jack  Racer  for  a  month  of 
Sundays." 

"  Who  'd  a  thought  you  were  so  vain,  Sally  !  " 
'*•  You  're  pokin'  fun  at  me,  Sam,  but  I  've  a 
healed  jaw,  and  I  'm  thankful  I  don't  know 
what  it 's  about,  for  I  can't  laugh." 
"  Lucy,"  said  Aunt  Kiz,  having  stolen  a  guilty 
look  at  her  niece,  on  whose  face  the  red  was 
creeping  up  to  supplant  the  white,  "  fly  around 
and  clear  the  table.  Let 's  git  these  dishes  put 
away  afore  midnight.  Let  Jack  Racer  alone, 
Sam  Campbell,  he  '11  come  around  all  right." 


ii8  JACK    RACER 

"  Kcziah  's  allays  for  Jack  Racer,  since  he  was 
a  little  fellow." 

"  He  never  mocked  my  gray  hairs." 
"O,  Aunt  Kiz  !  And  your  hair  is  as  black  as 
a  sloe."  Lucy  affectionately  parted  the  black 
locks  in  which  Aunt  Kiz  took  secret  pride. 
"  Well,  he  would  n't  have  mocked  them  if 
they  'd  a  been  there.  Jack  allays  had  nice  ways 
with  old  wimmen." 

*'  Young  ones,  too,  I  take  it,  if  the  way  the 
gals  run  after  him  is  true,"  Mr.  Campbell 
added,  replacing  his  chair  for  a  gossip,  while 
Aunt  Kiz  and  Lucy  washed  the  dishes. 
*' You  would  n't  go  to  the  temperance  rally- 
last  night,  Sam,  and  you  missed  more  fun  than 
you  could  shake  a  stick  at."  Aunt  Kiz 
paused,  dishrag  in  hand. 

"  The  Methodis'  church  was  packed.  I  went 
with  Loizy  Merchant,  and  we  set  on  the  pul- 
pit steps.  Such  a  talker!  Talked  too  much  ! 
Like  molasses  in  winter,  steady  stream,  no  stop 
to  it.      He  had  a  feller  with  him   that  spoke 


THE  CAMPBELL  FAMILY  119 
a  piece  pretendin'  to  be  a  man  with  snakes,  but 
rhymin'  at  every  line.  *  Laws,'  says  Loizy 
to  me, '  I  did  n't  know  they  talked  potry  when 
they  had  snakes.'  She  's  such  a  simple-minded 
creatur'.  Finally,  the  fellow  gave  a  whoop  that 
would  raise  the  dead,  an'  jumped  right  over 
Loizy's  sunbonnet,  and  went  screechin'  down 
the  aisle.  '  Gone  to  perdition,'  says  the  per- 
fessor.  '  Behold  the  way  of  a  man  given  to 
drinkin'  an'  wine-bibbin'.  Who  do  you  sup- 
pose is  the  master  hand  in  workin'  all  this 
wretchedness  in  your  homes.  It  is  a  woman,' 
says  he.  '  Yes,  sisters,  yes,  brethren,  a  woman. 
The  Widder  Clikott  comes  a-dashin'  along  in 
her  coach  with  her  prancin'  steeds.  She  trips 
up  the  steps  of  her  brownstone  palace  on 
Fifth  Avenue,  and  every  stone  has  been 
bought  with  the  price  of  a  soul !  '  Oh,  you 
never  heard  anything  like  the  way  he  went 
on,  Sam." 

"  Like  as  not  it  ain't  true." 
*'  Jus'  wait.     '  Sisters,'  he  says, '  arise  an'  con- 


120  JACK     RACER 

dcmn  that  woman  ! '  An',  would  you  believe 
it,  Samantha  Dyer  began  to  hiss,  an'  fur  a  minit 
you  'd  s'posed  there  was  a  hundred  thousand 
snakes  in  that  room." 

"  Ye  don't  mean  it !  Was  n't  S'mantha  Dyer 
cavortin'  around  old  Jones,  the  distiller,  at  the 
Limy  Fair  ?  " 

"  Well,  sayin'  as  that  woman,  the  Widder 
Clikott,  is  all  he  says  she  is,  I  really  felt  sorry 
for  her,  and  I  do  hope  to  goodness  she  '11  never 
hear  it." 

"  Like  enough  she  will.  They  telegraph  every- 
thing nowadays,  since  lines  is  let  into  every 
huddle  of  shanties." 

"  But  that  was  n't  what  I  was  goin'  to  tell  you 
when  I  set  out.  The  perfessor  had  a  big  dic- 
tionary book  longside  of  him,  and  a  lot  of  bot- 
tles. '  Now,'  says  he,  '  I  'm  agoin'  to  make 
every  sort  of  wine  that 's  drunk,  out  of  them 
ingredjents,  and  you  can  see  for  yourselves  jus' 
what  sort  of  poison  you  're  takin'  into  your- 
selves.' " 


THE  CAMPBELL  FAMILY  121 
"  He  mus'  think  everybody  in  Pekin  has  a 
wine  cave." 

"  So  he  read  out  of  his  book,  an'  mixed  an' 
talked.  '  There,'  said  he, '  this  is  port,  an'  this 
is  claret  wine,'  an'  he  named  a  lot  more  drinks. 
Then  the  young  chap  that  went  to  perdition, 
an'  had  come  back  to  take  up  the  collection, 
passed  the  cups  around  the  side  seats.  There 
sat  Squire  Martin,  an'  Doc  Dennis,  Lawyer 
Green,  an'  a  lot  of  old  coots.  Sam,  you  'd  a 
died  laughin'  if  you  'd  a  seen  them  cockin'  their 
heads  on  one  side,  smackin'  their  lips,  an' 
tryin'  to  look  as  if  they  knowed  what  port  an' 
the  rest  of  them  tasted  like." 
"  I  don't  believe  they  ever  tasted  anything 
stronger  than  hard  cider  in  their  lives,"  grunted 
Mr.  Campbell. 

"  Just  then  Jack  Racer  come  in,  lookin'  as 
peart  an'  sassy  as  ever  you  see  him.  He  had 
on  a  new  black  an'  white  check  suit,  an'  he 
might  have  been  melted  an'  poured  into  it. 
'  Pass  them  to  that  gentleman,'  said  the  per- 


122  JACK    RACER 

fessor,  not  kiiowin'.  Everybody  snickered. 
Jack  tasted  them  all,  jus'  as  cool,  an'  then  sang 
out  clear  as  a  bell,  '  They  all  taste  like  drug- 
store whiskey.'  " 

"  That  was  a  double-header,  Kiz.  How  'd 
Doc  Dennis  like  that  ?  " 
"  He  fired  right  up  an'  everybody  laughed." 
"  Served  him  right.  Doc  Dennis  got  the  local 
option  bill  passed  that  took  the  trade  in  spirits 
away  from  Sam  Limecooly,  and  gave  it  to  his 
nephew's  drug  store.  They  do  say  that  Doc  's 
a  half  partner." 

"  Well,  this  I  know,  my  balsams  ain't  worth 
shucks  for  sprains  this  year  all  along  of  his 
worthless  whiskey.  Laws,  Lucy,  that  boy  's 
noddin'  his  head  off.      Carry  him  upstairs." 


>•  -^-v-' 


CHAPTER      NINE 


IX 

Lucy  and  Aunt  Kiz  Get  Acquainted 

ILLY  had  been  fast  asleep 
for  some  time,  but  he  braced 
himself  against  the  accusa- 
tion. 

"  I  heard  every  word  you 
said.  You  're  talkin'  about  Jack  Racer." 
Billy's  young  but  nimble  reasoning  powers  had 
acted  on  the  last  word  of  Aunt  Kiz's  that  he 
had  heard,  and  immediately  felt  warranted  in 
the  statement,  which  proved  to  be  correct. 
"  I  tell  you,  Jack  Racer  thinks  a  lot  of  us." 
"  What  makes  you  think  so,  Billy  ?  "  asked  his 
father,  looking  at  his  wife  for  appreciation  of 
their  son's  keen  wit. 

"  He  's  allays  askin'  how  we  are.  '  How  's 
your  father,  Billy  ? '  'Is  your  mother  well  to- 
day ?  '    'How  's  your  good  Aunt  Kiz  ?  '    All 


126  JACK    RACER 

except  Lucy,  he  never  asks  for  her,  but  I  allays 

tell  him.      I  ain't  goin'  to  have  Lucy  left  out 

of  this  family." 

Aunt  Kiz,  who  was  gazing  admiringly  at  the 

boy,  sprang  upon  him  with  fervor. 

"The  dear  lamb,  the  sweetest,  best  little  boy 

in  the  world.    Aunt  Kiz  will  carry  him  up  to 

bed.      Lucy,  get  the  candle." 

Billy  struggled  manfully  against  the  caresses, 

but  consented  to  be  carried  upstairs. 

"  You  was  mad  at  me,  wasn't  you,  to-night  ?  " 

he  asked,  one  arm  around  Aunt   Kiz's  neck, 

on  the  way  upstairs. 

"Well,  yes,  a  little." 

"  But  we  've  made  up  now,  ain't  we  ?  " 

"Yes,"  giving  him  a  squeeze.     "  You  know 

the  Bible  says  we  must  n't  let  the  sun  go  down 

on  our  wrath." 

"  Oh,  it  was  long  after  dark.  It  was  after  supper 

that  you  all  fought  with  me.    But  you  liked  it, 

did  n't  you,  when  I  told  you  Jack  Racer  called 

you  'good   Aunt  Kiz  '  ?      And  it  was  all  just 


LUCY  AND  AUNT  KIZ  127 
guesswork  with  him.  He  docs  n't  begin  to 
know  how  goody,  good,  good  you  are." 
Billy  ended  by  throwing  both  arms  around 
Aunt  Kiz's  neck,  in  one  of  his  rare  fits  of 
demonstration. 

Aunt  Kiz  pressed  him  to  her  breast,  too  much 
touched  to  speak. 

Billy  climbed  down  from  her  lap  and  began  to 
undress. 

"  Come.      Let  me  undo  your  galluses." 
"  I  can  undo  them  myself,  or  how  'd  I  get  to 
bed  if  you  had  gone  on  the  cars  to  New  York? " 
"  But  I  'm  not  goin'  to  New  York." 
*'Well,  s'posin'.  You  might,  you  know.  Then 
I  'd  have  to  unbuckle  my  galluses  myself." 
"  There 's  Lucy." 

"  Lucy  's  a  girl.    Girls  don't  know  about  such 
things.     But  you  can  untie  my  shoe." 
"  I  '11  bet  it  "s  in  a  hard  knot.      I  thought  so. 
Now,  say  your  prayers." 

Billy  knelt  down  and  was  silent  a  long  time. 
When  hegot  up  he  explained, apologetically, — 


128  JACK    RACER 

"  It  takes  a  long  time  to  take  in  all  the  rela- 
tions, I  tell  you.  Bob  Wally  ain't  down  but 
a  minit,  an'  then  whips  into  bed.  He  never 
takes  in  his  cousins.  He  says  they  can  do  their 
own  prayin'." 

"  Well,  I  'm  glad  you  're  a  better  boy." 
"  But  I  ain't,  you  know.    He  says  he  'd  rather 
be  a  child  of  grace  than  spend  the  hours  in  idle 
play.  That 's  what  the  teacher  asked,  an'  I  said 
I  'd  rather  play!  " 
«  Oh,  Billy  !  " 

"  Which  would  you  rather  be  ?  " 
"  A  child  of  grace,  of  course." 
"  That  's  because  you  never  played  shinny. 
Now  I'm  ready  for  bed.    Yes,  if  you  want  to, 
kiss  me  good-night;  but  we  've  kissed  a  good 
deal  this  evening." 

"  That's  because  we  had  a  little  difference,  you 
know." 

"  Sure  enough.  Well,  that 's  the  last.  You're 
a  bully  old  Aunt  Kiz,"  Billy  shouted  at  her, 
from  the  bedclothes,  as  she  went  out  the  door. 


LUCY    AND    AUNT     KIZ     129 

Lucy  was  in  an  adjoining  room,  seated  before 
an  open  bureau  drawer.  She  had  balanced  her 
candle  on  the  corner  of  the  drawer  and  was 
pulling  over  her  ribbons  and  trinkets,  girl- 
fashion,  and  folding  and  putting  them  away 
again  in  highly-colored  paper-boxes.  Aunt 
Kiz  came  up  behind  her. 
"  Oh  !  Aunt  Kiz,  you  startled  me." 
"  What  are  you  doin',  child  ?  Sortin'  over 
your  purties  ?  That  's  a  cute  thing,"  picking 
up  a  wooden  shoe,  gayly  painted  and  adorned 
with  ribbons,  for  the  decorative  fever  had 
set  in  at  Pekin,  and  its  first  evidence  is  the 
diverting  of  everything  from  its  original  pur- 
pose. 

"  Yes,"  said  Lucy,  absently, "  Amzi  gave  me 
that  at  the  Baptist  fair." 
"How  is  it  Amzi  ain't  comin'  here  nowa- 
days ? " 

"  He  's  going  to  see  Laura  Francis." 
"What  do  you  keep  them  things  fur?  " 
"  Why,  Aunt,  they  're  my  earthly  all.   There  's 
9 


130  JACK    RACER 

the  locket  Uncle  brought  me,  and  the  bead- 
cushion  you  made  me,  and  the  melon-seed  bag 
of  Cousin  Martha  Bliss  —  " 
"  Nonsense.  I  know  'em  as  well  as  I  know 
you.  I  mean  them  stones  and  pebbles  litterin' 
up  your  drawer." 

Lucy  was  idly  twisting  around  her  finger  a  yel- 
low string  run  through  a  hole  in  a  shell. 
"Amzi  would  have  been  comin'   here  yet,  if 
you  'd  pitch  away  a  lot  of  that  trash  and  for- 
get you  ever  had  it." 

Lucy  looked  up  reproachfully,  and  her  eyes 
filled  with  tears. 

"  Lucy,  darling,  forgive  me.  I  did  n't  mean 
to  speak  rough.  But  I  want  to  see  you  well 
off  and  happy,  and  sometimes  it's  just  the 
thoughts  that  stick  to  stones,  and  dried  flowers, 
and  simple  things,  that  make  us  let  our  real 
happiness  go  by  without  knowing  it.  You  've 
always  been  such  a  good  child,  doin'  your  duty 
in  season  and  —  " 
"  That 's  just  it."      Lucy  shut  the  drawer  and 


LUCY    AND     AUNT     KIZ     131 

stood  up.  "  Tell  me  how  to  keep  from  doing 
my  duty.  I  hate  my  duty." 
"Why,  Lucy  !  "  Aunt  Kiz  started  back.  J  ust 
then  two  girls  passed  under  the  window,  laugh- 
ing loudly,  one  tossing  a  saucy  answer  to  a 
voice  up  the  street. 

"  Listen  to  that.  They  are  happy.  What 
would  I  give  to  laugh  out  free  and  careless  like 
that !  " 

"  Fine  time  of  night  to  be  traipsin'  around. 
Purty  mothers  they  must  have." 
"  But  they  are  happy,  Aunt  Kiz.  That 's  the 
chief  thing;.  I  would  be  willino-  to  be  scolded 
by  you,  to  have  Uncle  swear  at  me,  and  Aunt 
Sally  cry  over  me,  to  be  happy  and  laugh  like 
that." 

Lucy  had  caught  her  aunt's  arm  in  her  vehe- 
mence, holding  the  candle  in  her  other  hand. 
As  its  flickering  light  chased  the  shadows  over 
her  face.  Aunt  Kiz  realized  for  the  first  time 
that  her  niece  had  beauty.  The  girl  had  al- 
ways been  too  near  to   her.      Now,  her  face 


r32  JACK    RACER 

alive  with  emotion,  an  unknown  fire  shining 
in  her  eyes,  Lucy  impressed  Aunt  Kiz  like  a 
new  person.  She  was  too  intent  on  the  strange- 
ness of  this  thought  to  reply  at  first. 
"  Tell  me,  Aunt  Kiz,  how  not  to  do  my  duty." 
"I  can't,  Lucy.  It  is  in  you.  You  can't 
get  away  from  it." 

"  Then  I  will  never  be  happy,"  she  said  in  de- 
spairing tones,  and,  releasing  her  aunt's  arm, 
sat  down  again. 

"What  is  the  matter,  child?      Why  do  you 
look  at  things  in  that  way  ?  " 
"Can  I  not  see.  Aunt  Kiz?   It  is  to  the  thought- 
less, the  careless,  the  selfish,  that  everything 
comes." 

"  Everything  what,  child  ?  " 
"  Everything  worth  having.  Oh,  I  've  thought 
it  all  out.  I 've  tried,  too.  I  left  the  milk  pans 
unwashed  the  other  evening,  and  went  out  to 
walk.  I  never  made  my  bed  yesterday  ;  I  just 
spread  it  over  until  evening.  But  what  good 
did  it  do  ?  "   She  laughed  hysterically,     "  I  was 


LUCY    AND    AUNT    KIZ     133 

only  wretched.  I  came  upstairs  every  little 
while,  to  make  it ;  and  then  went  down  again. 
I  was  bound  to  give  it  a  good  trial."  And  Lucy 
laughed  again  with  such  lack  of  mirth  that  the 
tears  came  to  Aunt  Kiz's  eyes,  and,  throwing 
her  arms  around  Lucy's  neck,  she  sobbed  on 
her  shoulder. 

"  Lucy,"  she  said,  wiping  her  eyes,  "you  are 
your  mother's  child.  Whatever  is  right  for  you 
to  do,  you  will  do ;  that,  bless  God,  is  your  fate, 
struggle  against  it  as  you  will.  Listen,  Lucy. 
I  was  strong-willed  and  high-strung,!  went  and 
came,  nothing  stood  in  the  way  of  my  pleasure. 
Your  mother  was  all  that  I  was  not,  —  a  good 
daughter,  a  loving  sister.  Lucy,  she  died  young, 
but  before  she  left  us  she  had  been  a  happy  wife 
and  mother.  Child,  child,  I  would  sell  all  the 
years  of  my  life  to  have  had  one  sip  of  the  brief 
joys  of  your  mother." 

Aunt  Kiz  was  on  her  knees  before  Lucy,  her 
slim  form  bolt  upright.  Lucy  got  down  be- 
side her. 


134  JACK     RACER 

"  Dear  Aunt  Kiz,"  she  murmured,  "  we  love 

you  so  much,"  stroking  her  hand. 

"  Let  me  alone,  Lucy."     Lucy  set  the  candle 

on  the  chair,  and  sank  back  on  the  floor:  Aunt 

Kiz  got  up  and  began  to  pace  the  room. 

"  Yes,  I  would  sell  my  soul  to  have  been  a  wife 

and  had  babies  about  my  knee.     I  was  all  for 

pleasure ;  I  played  with  the  love  of  good  and 

honest  men,  and  then  threw  my  own  into  the 

dirt.      Now,  what  have  I  left?     A  lonely  life, 

a  hungrv  heart,  a  bitter  tongue  !  " 

"  No,  no.  Aunt   Kiz  !      Don't !  "      Lucy  put 

her  hands  before  her  eyes. 

Her  aunt  came  up  before  her. 

"  Put  down  your  hands,  Lucy.      For  the  first 

time  in  my  life,  I  am  showing  these  bleeding 

wounds,  and  because  I  hope  the  sight  may  help 

you.     Courage  !     Look,  child.      I  never  see  a 

child  clinging  to  its  mother's  skirts,  that  they 

do  not  bleed  afresh.      I  never  see  a  wife  look 

into  her  husband's  eyes  that  they  do  not  sting. 

Even  when  I  see  Aunt  Chloe  and  Uncle  Jack 


LUCY  AND  AUNT  KIZ  135 
warming  their  tobacco  side  by  side,  I  want  to 
wring  my  hands  and  gnash  my  teeth,  for  black 
or  white,  rich  or  poor,  the  sweetness  of  affection 
is  the  same.  O  God,  the  years  that  I  have 
borne  it  !  But  it  is  not  all  in  vain,  if  I  can  only 
serve  you.  Look,  child,  look,  and  if  your  life 
seems  homely  and  your  duty  a  burden,  remem- 
ber me  as  you  see  me  to-night,  and  as,  please 
God,  no  one  shall  ever  see  me  again." 
Aunt  Kiz  sank  into  her  chair,  faint  from  emo- 
tion, and  burst  into  bitter  weeping.  Lucy  crept 
up  to  her,  fearing  to  speak,  but  pressing  her 
cheek  against  her  aunt's  knee. 
They  sat  silent  thus  for  some  time,  p'inally. 
Aunt  Kiz  grew  calmer. 

"  There,  dear,  we  was  strangers,  after  all,  until 
to-night ;  was  n't  we  ?  Now,  let  us  go  to  bed." 
Lucv  still  clung  to  her. 

"  Aunt  Kiz,  you  have  crucified  yourself  for  me, 
and  I  thought  I  was  not  selfish." 
"•  You  are  a  dear,  precious  girl.      Not  a  word 
now.      Go  to  bed." 


136  JACK    RACER 

The  two  women  separated  without  any  more 
words.  After  their  lights  were  long  out,  Aunt 
Kiz  cried  from  her  room  : 
"  Lucy,  if  we  was  two  men,  we  'd  take  two 
stiff'  whiskey  toddies  and  go  to  sleep  like  babes. 
But  we  're  only  wimmen,  and  we  '11  have  to 
wrastle  it  out." 


CHAPTER      TEN 


X 


A  Fire  Gives  Opportunity  for  More  than  Heroism 


T  last  they  slept.  When 
tear-worn  women  have  at 
last  found  peace  in  the 
blessed  oblivion  of  sleep, 
all  earth  should  conspire 
to  keep  silence.  And  so  it  seemed.  Pekin 
now  lay  motionless  under  the  dark  blue 
sky.  Not  a  light  glimmered,  not  a  footstep 
sounded  in  the  street.  There  is  no  stillness 
more  profound  than  that  of  a  slumbering 
village. 

At  length,  far  up  the  street,  a  hoarse  voice 
shouted  "  Fire  !  "  The  sound  came  nearer, 
and  a  man  rushed  by,  still  shouting  "  Fire  ! 
Fire  !  "  Windows  were  thrown  up  ;  heads 
thrust  out.  But  the  man  paused  for  no  ques- 
tions. 


HO  JACK     RACER 

Lights  glimmered  here,  there,  and  now  from 
every  house.  Doors  slammed,  men  hurried 
forth,  taking  up  the  fearful  cry. 
Then  came  the  clangor  of  bells.  The  Baptist, 
the  Methodist,  —  quick,  rapid  strokes,  ceasing 
only  when  the  hand  on  the  rope  paused  to  gain 
strength  to  begin  again. 

Heavy  sleepers,  fresh  from  dreams,  sprang  up 
in  the  darkness  at  the  frantic  sound,  and  wo- 
men groped  the  way  to  their  children's  beds. 
All  Pekin  was  now  aroused.  Every  man  was 
a  member  of  one  of  the  two  fire  companies. 
Trousers  and  boots  made  a  toilet.  Women 
hurried  into  their  clothes,  fastening  them  in 
the  street.  Children  followed  them,  clad  in 
what  they  could  find,  crying,  *'  Mother,  mo- 
ther, wait  for  me!  "  as  they  dressed  themselves 
on  the  way. 

The  whole  town  was  now  on  the  street,  the 
church  bells  pealing,  men  shouting,  the  engine 
and  hose  bells  clanging  as  they  rolled  through 
the  town,  drawn  by  the  long  lines  of  men  ; 


MORE    THAN    HEROISM     141 

women  and  children  now  running  in  their  trail 
toward  a  faint  yellow  light  creeping  up  the 
blue  sky. 

Aunt  Kiz  put  her  head  out  of  the  window. 
"  Where  is  it,  Samuel  ?  "  calling  to  Mr.  Camp- 
bell, hurrying  out,  buckling  'his  suspenders  as 
he  went. 

"  It  looks  over  Wally's  way." 
"  Lucy  and  I  '11  go.  Sally  can  mind  the  house." 
They  soon  had  joined  the  hurrying  crowd,  run- 
ning as  they  went,  and  pausing  only  to  take 
breath, 

"  Keziar,  d'  ye  s'pose  it  was  set  afire  ?  "  panted 
Mrs.  Bergan,  behind  them,  her  nightcap  sur- 
mounting a  toilet  consisting  of  a  short  gown 
and  quilted  skirt. 

"  I  don't  know  yet  what  it  is,  Mrs.  Bergan." 
"  Why,  it 's  Wally's  new  house.  Like  enough, 
like  a  lot  of  shiftless  people,  they  take  up  their 
ashes  o'  nights,  an'  I  should  n't  be  surprised 
if  they  emptied  'em  into  a  bar'l  settin'  close 
up  to  the  summer  kitchen,"  said  Miss  Dyer. 


142  JACK    RACER 

"  I  allays  use  an  iron  pot ;  it 's  temptin'  Prov- 
idence to  use  wooden  vessels  for  ashes." 
"  As  if  Providence  was  a-firin'  the  roofs  over 
our  heads,  in  the  night  too  !  "  exclaimed  Miss 
Samantha,  with  pardonable  contempt. 
"  But  does  n't  that  spile  'em  for  soap  ?  Cer- 
tingly,  if  they  're  put  fust  in  a  bar'l,  there 
they  are,  needin'  only  to  be  histed  to  run 
ofF  the  lye.  I  s'pose  that  was  Mis'  Wally's 
idee." 

"The  people  that  goes  for  savin'  trouble  has 
the  worst  of  it,  mark  my  words." 
Lucy  and  Aunt  Kiz  began  to  run  again,  and 
the  ladies  followed  them. 
It  proved  to  be  the  Wally  residence.  The 
back  part  of  the  house  was  in  flames  and  their 
glare  irradiated  the  neighborhood.  Neighbors 
were  carrying  out  the  furniture,  and  tearing  up 
the  carpets.  While  the  men  bore  the  heavier 
articles,  the  women  carried  the  dishes,  orna- 
ments, chairs,  and  lighter  furniture  to  a  secure 
place  across  the  street. 


MORE  THAN  HEROISM  143 
Here  Mrs.  Wally  sat,  crying  and  wringing  her 
hands,  on  a  pile  of  feather-beds. 
On  the  adjacent  houses,  men  climbed  along 
ridge-poles  in  their  stocking-feet,  spreading 
blankets  which  they  kept  wet  with  the  water 
that  women  handed  up  to  them. 
There  were  no  public  cisterns.  Fences  were 
levelled,  and  the  hose  was  carried  over  bushes 
and  garden  beds  to  the  neighboring  wells  and 
cisterns. 

The  elder  men  worked  in  lines  at  the  engines, 
and  the  younger  men  carried  the  hose,  scaled 
the  porches,  climbed  through  windows,  and 
their  dark  forms  could  be  seen  outlined  against 
the  fierce,  roaring  background  of  flame,  and 
dimly  seen  among  the  chimneys  of  the  roof. 
No  better  spectacular  arena  could  be  desired 
for  the  display  of  personal  courage.  The  con- 
ditions were  all  picturesque,  the  flaming  back- 
ground and  eddying  clouds  of  smoke,  the 
costume,  the  white  glazed  hat  with  its  gayly- 
painted  ornament  and  sheltering  back,  the  flan- 


144  JACK     RACER 

nel  shirt  and  black  belt  with  its  gilded  fastenings, 
the  high-topped  boots,  into  which  the  trousers 
were  thrust ;  and  below,  the  eager,  excited  au- 
dience noting  every  movement. 
A  fire  was,  in  fact,  recognized  as  the  great 
opportunity  for  the  Pekin  young  men ;  and 
they  vied  with  each  other  in  deeds  of  daring. 
At  each  fire  the  generous  rivalry  between  the 
two  fire  companies  grew  afresh.  Jack  Racer 
commanded  "The  Dreadnought,"  a  trim  little 
engine  with  its  inspiring  legend,  "  We  fly  to 
save."  The  older,  more  sedate  engine,  with 
its  Latin  motto,  "  Forthudo  inspirit  spem^' 
was  commanded  by  Horace  Morton,  a  young 
married  man,  who  now  felt  new  duties  toward 
himself,  being  an  even  younger  father. 
The  fire  had  crept  steadily  over  the  roof  in 
the  face  of  a  steady  stream  from  The  "Dread- 
nought," while  "  The  Reliance  "  charged  in- 
side. The  men  were  driven  back,  pace  by  pace, 
until  only  Jack  and  Sam  Limecooly  remained 
on  the  roof.    Sam  supported  the  hose,  bracing 


MORE  THAN  HEROISM  145 
himself  against  the  chimney,  and  Jack,  aban- 
doning his  trumpet,  held  the  nozzle,  one  foot 
against  the  eaves  trough,  and  kneeling  on  the 
steep  gable. 

Below,  women  were  shrieking,  and  men  cry- 
ing,— 

"  Come  down,,  boys  !      Save  yourselves  !  " 
"  How  d'ye  feel,  Limecooly  ?  "  asked  Jack. 
"  Warmish.      We  might  as  well  git." 
"  Scoot,  then.     I  '11  follow.     There  's  a  fiery 
serpent  nibbling  at  my  boot." 
Sam  climbed   down  the  waterpipe  on  to  the 
trellis,  and  leaped   to   the  ground.     Jack  let 
himself  down  to   the  veranda   roof,  yet   un- 
touched ;    ever\'one   breathed    freely.      Then, 
suddenly,  he  darted  through   a  window   into 
the  burning  house.    A  wild  cry  of  horror  went 
up  below.      But  it  was  only  for  a  moment. 
Jack  reappeared  with  a  bundle  in   his  arms, 
followed  by  the  flames  from  the  roof,  which 
fell  in  with  a  crash,  and  sent  a  stream  of  sparks 
and  burning  bits  skyward. 


146  JACK    RACER 

His  burden  was  Billy  Campbell,  whom  he 
had  seen,  in  night-drawers  and  boots,  calmly 
walking  around  looking  for  something.  "  My 
God  !"  he  exclaimed,and  jumped  into  the  room. 
He  still  held  Billy  with  one  hand,  and  with 
the  other  climbed  down  the  frail  ornaments 
of  the  pillars. 

A  crowd  ran  to  meet  them. 
"  Never  mind.     It 's  all  right,"  waving  it  off. 
And  he  hurried  away. 

"  Jack,  what  did  you  hurry  me  so  for  ?  "  Billy 
asked,  finding  his  breath  once  more. 
"  You  imp,  what  were  you  doing  there  ?  " 
"  I  was  huntin'  that  Sparkins  boy's  velocipede. 
I  let  Bob  Wally  have  it  ;  and  I  was  'sponsi- 
ble. Sparkins  asked  me  how  much  money  I 
had  in  my  savings  bank,  and  I  told  him,  five 
dollars  and  fifty-six  cents  and  a  fi'penny  bit ; 
and  he  said  then  he'd  lend  me  his  velocipede, 
coz  if  I  broke  it  I  could  buy  him  another. 
So  I  was  'sponsible.  My,  but  you  're  nasty 
and  wet  !      An'  I   let  Bob  Wally  have  it.      I 


MORE  THAN  HEROISM  147 
did  n't  know  he  'd  go  an'  burn  it  up.  I  was 
savin'  that  money  to  git  me  a  gold  watch  an' 
chain." 

Aunt  Kiz  was  working  at  one  of  the  engines, 
the  women  having  replaced  the  now  exhausted 
men.     Screened  by  the  lilac  bushes,  she  had 
seen  nothing  of  the  excitement,  where  all  was 
excitement. 
Jack  called  to  her,  — 
"  Come,  Aunt  Kiz,      I  want  to  unload." 
"  Billy  Campbell,  as  I  'm  a  livin'  sinner  !  "   She 
let  go  of  the  pump  and  ran. 
"  He's  been  hunting  his  velocipede  in  Wally's 
house,  and  stayed  so  long  he  had  to  scale  the 
clapboards." 

Aunt  Kiz  fell  upon  Billy  with  expostulations 
and  kisses,  and  interrupted  Billy's  explanations 
by  turning  him  over  and  upside  down  to  see 
if  he  was  hurt. 

Jack  found  her  a  wrecked  sofa,  and,  putting 
Billy  in  her  lap,  escaped  the  throng  of  women 
gathering  about  them. 


148  JACK     RACER 

Part  of  the  established  routine  of  a  fire  of  im- 
portance at  Pekin  was  coffee  for  the  worn-out 
men.  This  duty  fell  to  the  girls.  They  had 
accordingly  hung  a  gypsy  kettle.  Anna  Ross 
was  tending  the  fire  and  Irene  Burke  grinding 
the  coffee.  Lucy  had  been  sent  to  hunt  up 
some  of  the  Wally  cups  to  serve  the  occasion. 
Wrapping  her  red  knit  shawl  over  her  head  to 
guard  against  the  burning  shower,  she  started 
toward  the  rescued  furniture  on  which  Mrs. 
Wally  still  sat  enthroned,  weeping,  and  sur- 
rounded by  sympathizing  friends.  The  fire  was 
now  past  danger,  but  the  falling  timbers  and 
the  roar  of  escaping  flames,  the  flying  sparks 
and  clouds  of  smoke,  made  it  seem  even  more 
terrible. 

Lucy  shuddered,  and  drew  her  shawl  closer  as 
she  ran  past  it  toward  the  Wally  cairn. 
"Lucy,  is  that  you  .?  "  said  Miss  Dyer.    "  I  'd 
a-thought  you  'd  been  supportin'  your  Aunt 
Kiz." 
"  Aunt  Kiz  is  working  at  the  '  Reliance.'  " 


MORE    THAN    HEROISM    149 
"  Indeed  she  's  not.     She  's  shudderin'  Hke  a 
fit  of  agur.      Did  n't  ye  hear  ?  " 
"  Hearwhat  ?  "  half  turning  her  head,  and  look- 
ing up  from  the  basket  she  was  filling  with  the 
cups  strewing  the  ground. 
"  How  Jack  Racer  jumped  into  that  burnin' 
gulf  after  poor  little  Billy  ?  " 
Lucy  heard  no  more. 

"There,  she's  forgotten  them  cups,  gal-like. 
Gals  is  hasty.  I  '11  take  'em  an'  git  a  cup  my- 
self. I  've  an  awful  gone  feelin'." 
Lucy  ran,  without  seeing  or  caring,  toward 
the  burning  house,  leaping  the  hose,  splashing 
through  sheets  of  water.  As  she  turned  the 
veranda  column,  there  stood  Jack. 
"  Jack!  Billy  !  "  she  cried,  and  fell  senseless  in 
his  arms. 

Jack  lifted  her  up  and  carried  her  away  from  the 
burning  house  to  the  shelter  of  the  lilacs.  There 
he  held  her  for  a  moment  to  his  breast,  and  bent 
his  head  toward  hers. 
"  No,"  he  said,  shutting  his  lips  tightly;   and, 


150  JACK    RACER 

with  head  erect,  he  bore  the  unconscious  girl 
to  Aunt  Kiz,  still  sitting  with  Billy  in  her  arms, 
and  placed  Lucy  by  her  side. 
"  Some  fool 's  been  frightening  her,"  he  said, 
roughly. 

Aunt  Kiz  looked  up  at  his  white  face  and  shin- 
ing eyes.  In  spite  of  his  tone,  she  caught  a  new 
note  in  his  voice. 

"  Take  care  of  her,  Aunt  Kiz,"  he  said,  ten- 
derly, with  shaken  voice. 
The  old  woman  caught  his  hand  and  pressed  it. 
"Jack,"  she  said,  as  he  turned,  "  if  you  can 
only  find  Samuel  and  carry  him  here,  I  '11  have 
the  whole  family.  Sally  's  home  with  abealed 
jaw. 

They  both  laughed,  and  Jack  walked  oft'. 
Lucy  lay  with  her  head  pillowed  against  Aunt 
Kiz's  shoulder.  Presently  she  stirred,  and  fi- 
nally, coming  to  herself,  she  felt  a  sweet  con- 
tent, and  tried  to  remember  how  it  came 
about.  When  she  remembered,  she  hid  her 
face  again,  lest  even  in  the  now  waning  light 


MORE  THAN  HEROISM  151 
of  the  burning  house.  Aunt  Kiz  should  see 
her  joy. 

"  Come,  Lucy,  we  might  as  well  get  home. 
This  bad,  bad  boy  has  gone  to  sleep." 
Lucy  turned  her  head  ;  and,  as  she  turned,  she 
saw  by  a  leaping  flame,  Irene  Burke  handing 
Jack  a  cup  of  coffee,  the  girl  blushing  and  hand- 
some beneath  his  gaze. 
She  turned  cold  and  sick  again. 
"  Yes,  Aunt  Kiz.      Let  us  go  home." 
A  well-conducted  fire  at  Pekin  concludes  very 
much  like  a  picnic.     This  of  the  Wally  house 
was  one  of  the  best  of  its  kind.     The  tired  men 
hurried  home  to  catch  some  sleep  before  day- 
light.   The  women,  now  at  leisure  to  coax  and 
cuff,  gathered  their  broods  together  and  drove 
them  before  them,  as  they  gossiped  on   the 
way.     The  small  boys  stole  away  one  by  one 
to  help  drag  the  engines  and  hose-carts  back  to 
the  engine-houses. 

A  few  firemen  kept  watch  over  the  dying  rem- 
nants burstino;   out   now  and  then  in  sudden 


152  JACK    RACER 

flashes,  and  still  capable  of  mischief  if  neglected, 
in  the  rising  wind.  The  young  people  sat  and 
made  merry  over  their  coffee  until  the  morn- 
ing began  to  dawn,  when  theyoung  men  walked 
home  with  the  girls,  and  Jack  Racer  lingered 
over  the  gate  with  Irene  Burke. 
"  You  are  better  looking  than  ever  by  the  dawn, 
Irene,  I  believe  this  is  the  only  time  of  day 
that  I  have  n't  inspected  you  by  before." 
"  And  you  are  flattering  as  ever.  Really,  there 
is  very  little  variety  in  your  comments  on  my 
personal  appearance." 

"  That  is  scarcely  my  fault.  But  you  look  as 
fresh  as  if  you  had  n't  been  up  half  the  night." 
He  leaned  back,  holding  her  off  with  both  hands 
and  scanning  her  close-fitting  dress,  every  de- 
tail of  toilet  complete. 

"  Everything  is  so  trim  and  taut  about  you." 
"  One  need  n't  go  to  a  fire  like  a  drab." 
"  Yes,  you  are  one  of  those  women  that  would 
have  a  hanging  dress,  if  they  were  going  to  be 
hanged." 


MORE  THAN  HEROISM  153 
Then,  looking  off  where  the  sun  was  rising,  a 
golden  ball  above  the  billowy  grass  of  the  prairie, 
he  murmured  to  himself,  — 
"  '  The  sweet  disorder  of  her  dress,' "  and,  turn- 
ing, peered  into  Irene's  face  with  all  the  force 
of  his  gaze. 

"  Why  do  you  look  at  me  that  way.  Jack  ?  " 
Irene  asked. 

"  I  am  trying  to  quench  a  memory." 
"  Your  speech  bewrayeth  you.     You  've  been 
handling  the  hose,"  turning  up  toward  him  her 
smiling  face. 

For  answer,  he  gave  her  a  long,  lingering  kiss. 
"  Did  you  quench  it  ?  "  she  murmured. 
"  Damn  it !  No,"  he  said,  and  strode  away. 
"  Jack,"  she  called  after  him,  "  remember,  at 
eight  o'clock  to-night,  I  want  you  to  teach 
me  poker,"  then  went,  well  satisfied,  into  the 
house. 


CHAPTER   ELEVEN 


XI 


And    Leaves   Jack    Racer   Unaccountably 
Capricious 

F  Jack  Racer  had  not  been  a 
privileged  person,  he  would 
have  gone  back  to  the  engine- 
house  after  the  fire,  as  did  the 
other  members  of  the  company. 
Instead,  he  went  to  his  room  over  the  office 
and  threw  himself,  in  his  wet  clothes,  across 
the  bed.  At  length,  after  much  tossing  and 
swearing,  he  went  to  sleep. 
It  was  nine  o'clock  when  he  awoke,  a  "■  scan'- 
lous"  hour  in  the  opinion  of  Pekin,  and  only  to 
be  tolerated  in  emergencies  such  as  that  of  the 
night  before.  Jack  got  up  and  made  his  usual 
careful  toilet.  This  attention  to  his  person,  as 
well  as  his  late  hours,  was  one  of  thegrievances 
against  him  in  some  circles  in  Pekin,  where  a 
hasty  wash  of  the  face  and  a  rapid  brush  of  the 


158  JACK    RACER 

hair  sufficed  until  evening,  when  everybody  was 
supposed  to  "  dress  up." 
Mrs.  George,  with  her  usual  indulgence,always 
kept  Jack's  breakfast  until  he  was  ready  for  it. 
This  morning,  in  view  of  the  events  of  the 
night  before,  she  attended  him  in  person.      She 
saw,  as  he  came  in,  that  he  was  not  in  a  com- 
municative mood,  but  she  felt  by  judicious  ques- 
tions, such  as  a  lawyer's  wife  would  put,  that 
she  might  elicit  something  of  interest. 
"  Ann  and  Caroline  can  talk  about  nothing  but 
the  fire  this  morning,"  she  began,  while  daintily 
serving  his  coffee. 
"  I  don't  doubt." 

"  Poor  Mrs.  Wally  !  She  must  have  felt  aw- 
fully at  having  her  new  house  burned  down." 
Jack  looked  up,  and  saw  he  was  expected  to 
answer. 

"  Yes,  she  did  take  it  pretty  hard.      If  she  had 
only  begun  soon  enough  her  tears  might  have 
put  out  the  fire." 
"  Ann  says  you  acted  liked  a  hero  ;   and  as  for 


LEAVES   JACK    CAPRICIOUS    159 

Caroline  —  "  Mrs.  George  clasped  her  hands 

expressively. 

"  Ann  and  Caroline  are  two  gabblers." 

"  Jack,  you  know  they  both  adore  you.    Now, 

for  all  you  take  it  so,  you  know  it  is  a  great 

thins:  to  have  saved  a  human  life." 

"  Bother,  Aunt !   I  beg  pardon.      It  was  only 

Billy  Campbell." 

"Well,  Jack,  even  he  's  human.   Of  course  you 

could  n't  know  it  was  only  that  bad  little  boy." 

u  Oh  —  oh,  no  —  o,"  said  Jack,  significantly. 

«  I  thought  it  was  the  Reverend  Mr.  Sparkins's 

son." 

"  He  's  in  Chicago,  with  his  mother.   I  thought 

you  knew  that,  Jack." 

As  she  spoke,  Mrs.  George  got  up,  and,  going 

to  Jack,  began  to  examine  him  critically. 

"  What 's    the    matter.   Aunt    George  ?      A 

smooch  ?  " 

"  Ah  !  "    She  gave  a  sigh  of  relief.    "  I  am  so 

glad  you  are  not  disfigured  in  any  way."    But 

he  reassured  her. 


i6o  JACK    RACER 

"  Of  course,  Aunt,  when  I  'm  saving  lives,  as 
a  rule  I  always  think  about  that  first.  I  '11  take 
care  not  to  spoil  my  phiz,  you  may  be  sure  of 
that." 

Mrs.  George  shook  her  head  doubtfully,  as  if, 
in  the  reckless  enthusiasm  of  youth,  he  might 
forget. 

Jack  himself  knew  he  would  very  much  dis- 
like getting  disfigured  in  any  way,  but  he  did 
not  say  so  ;  and,  touching  lightly  his  aunt's 
forehead,  left  the  room. 

Jack  went  back  to  his  own  room,  pulled  down 
some  large  books  bound  in  yellow  calf,  and, 
resting  his  head  on  his  hands,  with  his  feet 
stretched  out  under  the  table,  he  was  soon  ap- 
parently absorbed.  He  did  not  read  long,  but, 
quite  involuntarily,  found  himself  standing  be- 
fore a  picture  in  the  gallery  of  celebrities  he 
so  ostentatiously  displayed,  criticising  a  certain 
curve  of  outline. 

"  Ugh  !  "  he  said,  shivering,  when  he  came  to 
himself;  and  roughly  turned  the  picture  to  the 


LEAVES   JACK    CAPRICIOUS    i6i 

wall.  He  went  back  to  his  reading  and  for 
some  minutes  was  attentively  engaged.  Sud- 
denly he  exclaimed,  — 

"  The  Lord  have  mercy  on  my  soul  !  "  Jump- 
ing up,  he  walked  around  the  room  quickly, 
looking  for  something,  he  knew  not  what. 
Presently  his  eye  caught  the  well-filled  decan- 
ters and  handsome  appointments.  He  poured 
out  a  finger  of  whiskey  and  put  it  to  his 
lips. 

"  No,  I  '11  be  hanged,"  he  said.  "  I  'd  moon 
all  day." 

He  threw  himself  on  the  lounge  for  an  instant. 
"  It 's  no  use,"  he  exclaimed.  "  I  can  do  noth- 
ing here.  I  '11  put  the  distance  to  Sparta  be- 
tween." 

He  went  to  the  stable.  Fancy  neighed  softly 
as  he  came  in,  and  rubbed  his  shoulder.  He 
gave  her  some  lumps  of  sugar  from  his  pocket, 
and  the  mare  rubbed  with  her  nose  again,  in- 
viting new  caresses.  He  quickly  harnessed  her 
to  his  trotting  buggy,  and  was  off. 


i62  JACK    RACER 

The  road   lay  a  dead  level.     Jack  braced  his 

feet  against  the  dashboard  and  pulled  his  cap 

over  his  eyes.   Fancy  was  used  to  her  master's 

whims,  but  she  was  never  harder  pressed. 

Jack  came  into  Sparta  with   his  usual   dash. 

The  women  ran  to  the  windows.      The  girls 

on  the  street  plumed  themselves,  and   looked 

to  see  if  he  noted  them.   The  men  commented 

with  more  or  less  friendliness.  The  small  boys 

regarded  him  with  appreciation,  and  felt  that  to 

grow  up  like  Jack  Racer  ought  to  satisfy  any 

mother's  ambition. 

He  drew  his  mare  up  before   a  drab-colored 

office-door,  at  its  side  a  dingy  sign. 

"  Hi,  Jack  !  "  a  portly  man  greeted  him.    "•  I 

did  n't  expect  you.      I  heard  you  had  a  frolic 

last  night." 

"  Bit  of  a  blaze.      I  've  come  for  work." 

"  You  '11  have  the  afternoon  clear.    I  '11  be  in 

court." 

Jack  went  in,  found  the  book  he  wanted,  sat 

down  in  the  Judge's  chair,  with  his  feet  on  the 


LEAVES   JACK    CAPRICIOUS    163 

table,  and  began  to  read.    He  was  elated  with 
his  success. 

>■'  Can't  do  anything  at  home,"  he  muttered. 
Apparently  his  success  did  not  bear  contem- 
plating. He  grew  restless,  and  finally  per- 
suaded himself  he  was  hungry. 
Putting  aside  the  book,  he  went  out  on  the 
sidewalk  and  delighted  old  Jake  Durstine  with 
stories  while  he  ate  a  watermelon  with  him,  on 
a  store-box. 

"  But  I  can't  swap  lies  here  with  you,  Jake. 
I  've  got  work  to  do." 

"  Fust  time  I  ever  heerd  on  it,"  Jake  grunted. 
Jack  felt  that  this  conversation  had,  at  last, 
freed  him  from  his  persistent  thoughts.  He 
now  not  only  read  with  interest,  but  made 
some  notes  and  hunted  out  a  reference  or  two. 
But  in  time  this  zeal  flagged. 
"  I  am  hungry,"  he  said.  "Watermelon  is  not 
filling  for  the  price,  as  we  say  in  the  classics." 
Closing  the  books,  he  went  over  to  the  Grand 
Union  Hotel  in  the  Palace  Block.    He  looked 


104  JACK    RACER 

in  the  dining-room.  A  small  girl  sat  at  the 
end  of  a  long  table  filled  with  people.  Pulling 
a  string,  she  set  in  motion  a  row  of  wire  tra- 
pezes ;  from  these  fluttered  banners  that  once 
were  white,  but  which  still  kept  up  a  gentle 
breeze  while  they  waved  away  the  flies,  swarm- 
ing elsewhere,  from  a  double  row  of  men  and 
women  hastily  devouring  their  dinners. 
Jack  watched  the  small  girl  with  some  amuse- 
ment. As  she  pulled  her  banners  with  one 
hand,  with  the  other  she  held  surreptitiously 
below  the  table  a  story  paper  she  was  endeav- 
oring to  read.  Occasionally,  absorbed  in  her 
story,  she  forgot  her  string.  The  breeze  died 
away  ;  the  flies  sallied  in  ;  and  the  heads  down 
the  long  line  looked  up,  missing  something, 
and  finding  much.  Then,  recalled  to  herself, 
the  girl  jerked  the  string  violently  to  make 
amends,  and  the  women's  frizzes  and  the  locks 
of  the  men  waved  to  and  fro  until  she  relaxed 
again  into  a  steady  swing. 
"  Old  Heliogabalus  feeding  was  n't  a  patch  to 


LEAVES  JACK  CAPRICIOUS  165 
Sparta  for  luxury,"  Jack  said  to  himself,  "but 
I'm  not  old  Heliogab."  And  he  turned  on 
his  heel  and  went  out. 

The  "  Home  Circle  "  was  near,  the  saloon  of 
the  highest  ton  in  Sparta,  and  he  went  in  there 
and  began  to  rattle  the  balls  about  the  crazy 
billiard  table.  Then,  more  disgusted  than 
ever,  he  went  back  and  settled  himself  to  his 
work. 

At  intervals  he  groaned,  but  kept  his  chair  per- 
sistently. Then  suddenly,  in  the  midst  of  a 
long  sentence  on  torts^  without  any  consulta- 
tion with  himself,the  book  was  shut.  Jack  Racer 
stood  up,  put  his  hat  on,  and  was  at  the  door. 
He  did  not  stop,  but  hurr^'ing  to  the  shady  side 
of  the  street,  where  Fancy  was  tied,  he  un- 
loosed her  halter,  and  before  he  had  communed 
with  himself  he  was  speeding  homeward  as  fast 
as  he  came.  When  at  last  he  took  thought,  he 
said,  — 

"  It 's  only  for  once,"  begging  concession  to 
his  own  weakness. 


CHAPTER      TWELVE 


XII 


Aunt.Kiz  Invites  Him  In  and  Then  Invites 
Him  Out 

'HEN  Jack  reached  Pekin 
lie  turned  Fancy's  head  to 
M  the  Campbell  door.  Fasten- 
ing her  to  a  locust-tree,  he 
knocked  and  then,  with  scant  ceremony,  en- 
tered. Finding  no  one,  he  pursued  his  way 
through  the  house  into  the  kitchen,  where, 
hearing  voices  without,  he  poked  his  head 
through  the  kitchen  window.  "  Jack  Racer  !  " 
screamed  Aunt  Kiz. 

"  Yes,  I  've  called  to  get  my  thanks  for  saving 
that  boy  of  yours.  You  did  n't  pay  me  that 
civility  last  night.  I  suppose  it  's  a  mere  form, 
but  in  any  case  I  would  like  it." 
"  Sally  's  gone  to  the  dentist.  If  she  was  here 
she  'd  throw  her  arms  around  you.  As  it  is, 
if  you  '11  come  out  hyar  I  '11  do  my  best." 


I70  JACK    RACER 

'■^  May  I  ?  "      He  turned  to  Lucy  with  unsus- 
pected shyness. 

"Yes,  you  are  just  in  time.  Aunt  Kiz  and  I 
have  seen  so  much  of  one  another  to-day,  we 
were  about  to  quarrel  for  a  change." 
Jack  caught  the  mutual  look  of  love  and  con- 
fidence between  the  aunt  and  niece,  and  for 
the  moment  felt  very  lonely. 
"  What  a  jolly  place  this  is !  "  he  exclaimed, 
as  he  got  himself  through  the  window,  so  as 
not  to  disarrange  its  fringe  of  pans. 
The  Campbells'  back-yard  was  an  attractive 
spot.  The  summer  kitchen  was  a  roughly- 
boarded  afterthought,  but  it  was  overhung  with 
hop-vines  swinging  their  golden  bells  in  per- 
petual call.  The  surrounding  area  was  paved 
with  flags,  kept  clean  as  a  kitchen  floor.  These 
enclosed  an  old  apple-tree,  which  brought  such 
protecting  shade  that  half  the  household  duties 
were  performed  here. 

Aunt   Kiz    now  sat   in  a    low  rocking-chair, 
peeling  apples  to   stew  for  supper,  and   Lucy 


INVITED    IN   AND    OUT    171 

stood  under  the  apple-tree,  churning.  No  de- 
tail escaped  the  notice  of  so  accomplished  an 
observer  of  women  and  their  setting  as  Jack 
Racer. 

Her  print  dress  was  turned  up  over  a  white 
skirt  neatly  frilled.  A  white  fichu  crossed  on 
her  breast  and  a  blue  silk  handkerchief  was 
bound  turban-wise  about  her  hair,  in  view  of 
the  particular  work  in  which  she  was  engaged. 
Behind  her  was  the  grass  plot,  with  its  fruit 
all  gathered  but  the  russet  pears ;  the  old  well, 
mossy  and  weatherstained ;  the  hollyhocks  mar- 
shalled against  the  fence  ;  and  still  beyond,  the 
garden  with  its  flaming  dahlias  and  marigolds 
against  the  yellow  corn. 

Jack  flung  himself  on  an  old  settee  placed 
against  the  house.  As  he  watched  the  dasher 
dancing  up  and  down,  and  saw  the  flashing 
of  white  arms,  and  heard  the  gentle  plash, 
plash,  so  soothing  to  his  lately  perturbed  spirit, 
he  patted  his  self-indulgence  lovingly,  and  was 
very  content. 


172  JACK     RACER 

"  But  how  busy  you  are!    Can't  1  dandle  that 

thing  up  and  down  ?  " 

Aunt  Kiz  raised  a  warning  hand. 

"  Butter  is  like  women  and  mares,  they  know 

the  touch  of  their  master." 

"  Would  it  get  skittish  if  I  took  a  hand  ?  Now, 

Fancy  —  " 

"  Lucy  woos  the  butter  right  out  of  the  cream, 

sir.    If  you  want  to  do  the  proper  thing,  you  'd 

read  to  us  out  of  some  improvin'  book." 

"  And  keep  my  eyes  glued  on  to  the  page  ?   No, 

I  thank  you." 

"  Then  you  can  put  a  stick  of  wood  in  the  stove 

to  keep  the  fire  in." 

Jack  flew  to  obey  her.       As  he  reappeared,  she 

said, — 

"  You  'd  be  always  in  the  kitchen  if  you  had  a 

wife." 

"  That  would  depend  on  who  the  wife  was." 

"  For  ail   your  wild   doin's,  you  're   a  reg'lar 

Betty." 

"  I  '11  swear  to  one  thing.   At  the  risk  of  being 


INVITED    IN    AND    OUT    173 

unfashionable  in  Pekin,  if  my  wife  cooked  the 
breakfast  I  'd  chop  the  wood  and  make  the  fire." 
"  Pekin  wives  don't  have  the  heartache." 
"•  No,  but  they  all  have  the  backache." 
"  T'  other 's  worse." 

"  Look  here.  Does  n't  it  occur  to  you  that  if 
a  man  looks  after  his  wife's  back,  that  it  is  a 
sort  of  collateral  evidence  that  he  cares  for  her 
heart  ?  " 

"  You  talk  very  fine,"  she  smiled,  grimly. 
The  consideration  of  matrimony  was  always  an 
agreeable  subject  in  Pekin,  as  in  other  towns, 
small  and  large,  and  Jack  was  quite  willing  to 
continue  it.  Lucy  did  not  take  part  in  the  con- 
versation. Notwithstanding  her  cordial  wel- 
come, there  was  a  shyness  in  her  manner 
that  impressed  Jack.  But  he  felt  he  had  gained 
much  if  he  might  sit  there  where  he  could 
watch  her  movements  not  too  obviously. 
It  was  very  cunning,  he  thought,  to  see  her  peer 
into  the  half-opened  churn,  and,  with  her  head 
poised  on  one  side,  consider  judicially  the  situ- 


174  JACK    RACER 

ation  within.  Her  whole  attention  was  ap- 
parently contained  in  the  area  of  her  churn. 
He  watched  to  see  some  trace  of  interest  in  her 
face,  and  did  not  despair  of  bringing  smiles  by 
some  happy  audacity  that  he  might  safely  prac- 
tise with  Aunt  Kiz. 

Thus,  all  the  time  he  was  so  merrily  talking, 
he  was  thinking  of  Lucy,  likening  her  to  this, 
that,  and  the  other. 

"She  is  like  a  young  pine,"  bethought, "  slender 
and  straight  from  the  ground  up, —  so  pliant  and 
yet  so  strong. 

"  She  's  like  a  snowdrop,  —  modest,  shy,  and 
pure. 

"She's  like  a  snowbird, — so  brave, hardv, so 
grateful  for  a  few  little  crumbs,  —  and  so  cold. 
But  I  would  n't  have  her  otherwise.  Oh,  no, 
no  ! 

Jack's  thoughts  did  not  get  beyond  conven- 
tional comparisons.  But  he  was  not  a  young 
man  who  in  such  matters  strove  for  originality. 
He  used  his  mental  powers  in  the  easiest  way. 


INVITED    IN    AND    OUT     175 
These  similes  expressed  his  feelings,  and  that 
was  all  he  required  of  them. 
"  It  has  come,"  said  Lucy,  gravely,  taking  off 
the  lid  of  the  churn.      She  lifted  the  butter  in 
a  mass  into  a  wooden  bowl,  twirling  the  dasher 
around  dexterously,  to  catch  the  floating  bits. 
"  Give  Jack  some  of  the  buttermilk,  Lucy." 
"  Do  you  like  buttermilk.  Jack  ?  " 
"  I  was  brought  up  on  it." 
"  That  accounts,"  said  Aunt  Kiz. 
"  For  what  ?  " 

"  A  sort  of  frothiness  I  've  noticed  — " 
''  And  elasticity,  and  vivacity,  and  wholesome- 
ness  in  my  character.     Ouiteright,"  hefinished 
for  her. 

Lucy  stooped  to  lift  the  churn  and  Jack  sprang 
to  his  feet. 

"  Not  when  I  am  here,"  he  said,  decisively,  and 
sent  the  foaming  mass,  like  a  cataract,  into  a 
cool  stone  jar.  When  this  was  done  he  re- 
sumed his  lazy  attitude,  and  received  a  glass 
from  Lucy's  hands,  like  a  pasha. 


174  JACK    RACER 

atioii  within.  Her  whole  attention  was  ap- 
parently contained  in  the  area  of  her  churn. 
He  watched  to  see  some  trace  of  interest  in  her 
face,  and  did  not  despair  of  bringing  smiles  by 
some  happy  audacity  that  he  might  safely  prac- 
tise with  Aunt  Kiz. 

Thus,  all  the  time  he  was  so  merrily  talking, 
he  was  thinking  of  Lucy,  likening  her  to  this, 
that,  and  the  other. 

"Sheislikea  youngpine,"  he  thought, "  slender 
and  straight  from  the  ground  up,- — so  pliant  and 
yet  so  strong. 

"  She  's  like  a  snowdrop,  —  modest,  shy,  and 
pure. 

"She's  like  a  snowbird, — so  brave, hardy, so 
grateful  for  a  few  little  crumbs,  —  and  so  cold. 
But  I  would  n't  have  her  otherwise.  Oh,  no, 
no  !  " 

Jack's  thoughts  did  not  get  beyond  conven- 
tional comparisons.  But  he  was  not  a  young 
man  who  in  such  matters  strove  for  originality. 
He  used  his  mental  powers  in  the  easiest  way. 


INVITED    IN    AND    OUT     175 
These  similes  expressed  his  feelings,  and  that 
was  all  he  required  of  them. 
*' It  has  come,"  said  Lucy,  gravely,  taking  off 
the  lid  of  the  churn.      She  lifted  the  butter  in 
a  mass  into  a  wooden  bowl,  twirling  the  dasher 
around  dexterously,  to  catch  the  floating  bits. 
"  Give  Jack  some  of  the  buttermilk,  Lucy." 
"  Do  you  like  buttermilk.  Jack  ?  " 
"  I  was  brought  up  on  it." 
"  That  accounts,"  said  Aunt  Kiz. 
"  For  what  .?  " 

"  A  sort  of  frothiness  I  've  noticed  — " 
"  And  elasticity,  and  vivacity,  and  wholesome- 
ness  in  my  character.     Quite  right,"  he  finished 
for  her. 

Lucy  stooped  to  lift  the  churn  and  Jack  sprang 
to  his  feet. 

"  Not  when  I  am  here,"  he  said,  decisively,  and 
sent  the  foaming  mass,  like  a  cataract,  into  a 
cool  stone  jar.  When  this  was  done  he  re- 
sumed his  lazy  attitude,  and  received  a  glass 
from  Lucy's  hands,  like  a  pasha. 


176  JACK    RACER 

"  Ye  gods  !  What  a  drink  !  " 
He  quaffed  again  and  again,  partly  for  a  love  of 
the  buttermilk,  which  is  a  worthy  motive,  but 
chiefly  to  be  so  served,  —  to  have  Lucy  stand 
before  him,  to  watch  her  raise  her  pitcher  aloft, 
and,  bending  toward  him,  fill  his  glass  with  such 
dainty  precision.  There  was  a  proud  humility 
in  her  mien-  that  delighted  him  ;  and  he  pro- 
longed the  situation  as  long  as  his  capacity  for 
buttermilk  held  out,  and  then  relinquished  it 
with  a  sigh. 

Released,  Lucy  went  back  to  her  butter.  She 
wielded  now  a  short  wooden  paddle,  pressing 
it  to  and  fro  against  the  yellow  mass. 
There  is  muscular  force  in  this  as  well  as  deft- 
ness,—  asort  of  concentrated  energy  quite  dis- 
proportioned  to  the  apparent  motion,  and  which 
sends  the  blood  leaping  through  the  veins  like 
a  young  race-horse. 

Jack  watched  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  muscles 
in  the  firm  white  arm  with  the  admiration  of 
an  expert,  but  soon  found  more  bewitching  the 


INVITED  IN  AND  OUT  177 
advent  of  a  little  brown  ring  creeping  out  from 
under  the  blue  turban. 

It  is  an  unwritten  law  that  the  hair  must  not 
be  touched  during  this  household  rite.  So  the 
crisp  little  ring  strayed  away  down  Lucy's  neck 
and  curled  around  her  ear.  A  slight  movement 
of  the  head  at  length  showed  consciousness,  and 
then  a  gentle  toss,  as  the  audacious  curl  ven- 
tured into  her  ear.  Jack  watched  it  with  a 
fascinated  gaze.  The  lock  was  more  insistent, 
the  maiden  more  uneasy. 
Jack  was  trying  to  parry  Aunt  Kiz's  merry 
sallies,  but  was  consumed  within  with  a  frantic 
desire  to  touch  that  curl.  Could  he  not  offer  to 
tuck  it  back  ?  That  was  only  kindness.  Dared 
he  ?  He  braced  himself  for  the  offer,  and  then 
backed  down.  He  rallied,  and  then  retreated. 
He  reasoned,  he  argued.  He  called  himself 
unpleasant  names.  The  idea  !  A  slip  of  a 
girl,  and  he,  Jack  Racer. 

Meanwhile  the  curl  wandered  at  will.  It  waved 

to  and  fro  ;   it  beckoned  and  then  mocked  him. 

12 


178  JACK    RACER 

Thusgoaded, Jackmadeasudden move.  There 
was  a  sound  in  his  throat.     But  he  coughed  and 
settled  himself  again. 
Aunt  Kiz  looked  up. 

"  Are  ye  sittin'  on  a  bumble-bee's  nest,  Jack 
Racer  ?  " 

For  a  moment  her  keen  eyes  were  fixed  on 
him.  Then  she  arose  and  went  over  to  her 
niece. 

"  I  '11  tuck  yer  hair  in,  child.      It 's  botherin' 
ye."      Then  she  went  to  her  apples,  looking 
at  Jack  with  a  grim  smile. 
Jack  met  her  gaze  bravely. 
"You  remind  me  of  Beelzebub's  wife,"  he  said. 
"  I  know  she  smiles  just  like  you." 
"  Then  Mrs.  Bel  is  a  mighty  smart  old  woman." 
She  nodded,  decisively. 

Unconscious  of  the  cause  of  her  aunt's  and 
Jack's  passage  at  arms,  Lucy  finished  her  but- 
ter and  packed  it  away  in  a  httle  tin  pail.  Then 
she  took  from  a  nail  a  coil  of  rope  and,  with 
the  pail  in  her  hand,  started  to  the  well. 


INVITED    IN    AND    OUT     179 
"  You  shan't  prevent  me  now,"  Jack  said  de- 
fiantly to  Aunt  Kiz,  and  followed  her. 
Lucy  swung  the  pail  on  the  side  of  the  well. 
"  This  is  our  ice-house,  you  know." 
"  And  what   a  pretty  looking-glass  !  "     Jack 
stood  by  her  and  saw  their  two  faces  in  the  cool 
depths  of  the  water. 

"  There  we  are,  Lucy,  we  two  away  off  in  a 
little  round  world  by  ourselves." 
He  bit  his  lips  and  stopped. 
"  See  here.  Don't  you  get  enamored  some  day 
of  your  own  face  in  the  water,  like  that  heathen 
chap,  and  fall  in."  He  spoke  lightly,  but  the 
tension  of  his  voice  revealed  the  pressure  put 
upon  it. 

Lucy  did  not  answer,  but  leaned  over  the  well 
to  adjust  and  fasten  her  pail.  The  worn  boards 
gave  a  warning  sound  beneath  her  weight. 
"  My  God  !  "  cried  Jack,  with  all  the  possi- 
bilities flashing  before  him,  and,  throwing  his 
arm  around  her,  held  her  fast. 
"  It   is  nothing.  Jack,"  Lucy  said,  when   she 


i8o  JACK   racp:r 

could  speak  ;  but  as  she  looked  up  her  eyes  were 
filled  with  tears  ;  not  from  fright,  but  from  the 
sweet,  rare  sense  of  protection. 
"  It  is  something,"  said  Jack,  angrily.  "  Why 
don't  Sam  Campbell  have  a  decent  well  ?  Billy 
will  fall  in  some  day." 

"  Billy  is  n't  allowed  to  come  about  the  well. 
He  knows  if  he  should  get  drowned,  he  would 
be  whipped."  Lucy  laughed  through  her  tears, 
but  her  serenity  was  gone.  Jack,  with  his  mind 
troubled  and  his  soul  stirred,  went  back  to  Aunt 
Kiz  and  expended  himself  abusing  Sam  Camp- 
bell and  his  well. 

"  Ye  talk   like  the  agent   of  a   new-fangled 
pump,"  she  responded,  dryly. 
"You  mean   like  a  member  of  the   Humane 
Society." 

"  Lucy  !  "  she  called,  "  it 's  time  to  be  gittin' 
supper.  Come,"  to  Jack,  "  I  'm  goin'  in  now. 
No,  this  way." 

"  I  suppose  I  am  not  to  be  invited  to  tea  ?  " 
"Jack,  ye  could  make  vour  livin'  guessin'." 


INVITED    IN    AND    OUT     i8i 

She  started  for  a  side-door. 
'^  Good-bye,  Lucy,"  Jack  called,  as   he   fol- 
lowed Aunt  Kiz. 

"  Good-bye,  Jack,"  she  answered,  without  re- 
appearing. 

Aunt  Kiz  followed  theyoung  man  to  the  street- 
door  and  shut  herself  out  on  the  doorstep  with 
him. 

"  Look  hyar.  Jack  Racer,"  she  said,  "  I  don't 
want  you  comin'  round  hyar  any  more  after- 
noons." He  looked  at  her.  "  Young  men 
like  you  ought  to  be  at  work,"  she  added,  as 
an  afterthought. 

"  Aunt  Kiz,  you  know  you  don't  care  two  pins 
whether  I  work  or  play.     Is  there  anybody  else 
vou  would  rather  come  here  ?  " 
"  Yes,"  she  laughed,  "  if  that 's  it.     Amzi." 
Jack  sobered. 

"  If  Amzi's  company  is  wanted  here,  he  shall 
come,  I  promise  you  that.    But  who  wants  him 
to  come?  " 
"  I  do.      That 's  enough." 


i82  JACK    RACER 

"  That  's  not  enough,"  said  Jack,  positively. 
"  I  say  it  is  n't  enough,  Aunt  Kiz.  Does  any- 
body else  want  him  to  come?  " 
"  That 's  none  of  your  affair.  I  want  him." 
"  Plainly  it  is  my  affair,  if  I  am  not  to  come. 
And  I  tell  you  now,  he  shan't  come.  That 's 
flat." 

"  You  young  dook  of  Pekin,  I  '11  be  even  with 
ye." 

"What  is  more,  I  want  you  to  remember  that 
you  have  turned  me  out  of  the  house  and  if  I 
go  to  the  devil  it  is  your  fault." 
"  I  wash  my  hands  of  you,"  she  retorted,  turn- 
ing to  so  in. 

"  Aunt  Kiz  !  "  Jack  stopped  her.  "  I  'm  go- 
ing to  tell  you  something.  You're  a  woman 
though,  I  don't  suppose  you  '11  understand  it." 
"  I  '11  listen,  at  least,"  she  replied. 
"  I  came  to  your  house  this  afternoon  just  as 
a  man  who  is  going  to  reform  takes  his  good-bye 
dram, —  a  long  one  and  a  strong  one.  Now 
I  'm  going  to  swear  off." 


INVITED    IN    AND    OUT    183 
"  I'm  sure  we're  mighty  obleeged  to  ye  for 
the  comparison,"  she  answered,  indignantly. 
"  I  knew  you  would  n't  understand,"  said  Jack, 
sadly,  and  went  his  way. 
As  he  went  he  mused, — 
"  If  I  was  willing  to   undertake  the  risk  of 
spoiling  her  life,  I  'd  have  to  court  Aunt  Kiz 
first  —  grim  dragon  that  guards  the  entrance 
to  the  enchanted  castle."     The  fancy  seemed 
to  please  him.      "  Bally  old  girl."' 


CHAPTER      THIRTEEN 


XIII 

The  Professor  and  the  Cantata  of  Esther 

HE  announcement  that  the  Can- 
tata of  Esther  was  to  be  given  in 
Pekin  became  at  once  the  absorb- 
ing topic  of  conversation. 
Professor  Perry  Stivers  had  been 
for  some  time  overlooking  the  field,  as  he 
called  it. 

Professor  Stivers  was  a  slight  man  with  a  sal- 
low complexion  suggesting  malaria  and  coffee. 
He  had  beady  black  eyes,  curly  black  hair,  and 
a  profusion  of  whiskers.  The  discrimination 
between  beards  and  whiskers  is  not  recognized 
in  polite  circles  in  some  parts  of  the  country. 
But  although  fine  distinctions  were  not  usually 
observed  in  Pekin,  this  was  in  force. 
Professor  Stivers  had  whiskers.  These  were 
long  and  flowing,  and  in  moments  of  preoccu- 


i88  JACK     RACER 

pation  he  assisted  liis  mental  processes  by  di- 
vidintr  them  into  two  strands  and  knottin<r  them 
together. 

Professor  Stivers  always  wore  broadcloth,  and 
both  his  clothing  and  mien  were  related  to 
what  is  termed  "the  cloth."  In  fact,  although 
primarily  a  singing  teacher,  he  was  also  a  com- 
poser of  hymns.  Both  of  these  occupations 
gave  him  a  claim  on  churches  and  their  con- 
gregations and  obviated  the  necessity  of  hiring 
halls  or  undergoing  the  expense  of  a  hotel. 
But  few  of  what  are  generally  called  "  amuse- 
ments "  ever  visited  Pekin.  In  the  first  place, 
it  was  too  small  to  tempt  them.  And  in  the 
second  place,  Pekin  held  positive  views  on  the 
right  and  wrong  of  worldly  amusements,  —  by 
which  is  to  be  understood  that  interesting 
quadrilateral,  the  theatre,  the  opera,  dancing, 
and  card-playing. 

Occasionally  some  passing  *' Swiss  Bell  Ring- 
ers," or  "  Old  Folks'  Concert "  gave  an  en- 
tertainment  in    one    of   the   churches.      The 


CANTATA  OF  ESTHER  189 
"dressin'  up"  in  the  latter  was  at  first  held 
to  be  debatable,  seeming  to  suggest  the  theatre. 
But  the  matter  was  settled  by  a  general  under- 
standing that  the  clothes  had  been  handed  down 
from  past  grand-relations,  which  made  it  a 
family  matter.  As  for  the  "  Swiss  Bell  Ring- 
ers," everybody  knew  they  dressed  in  that 
foolish  fashion  "  to  home." 
It  was  not  that  Pekin  lacked  that  refreshment 
of  spirit  that  amusements  are  expected  else- 
where to  give.  On  the  contrary,  small  places 
are  at  a  less  disadvantage  than  would  appear, 
since,  thrown  on  their  own  resources  for  en- 
tertainment, they  unite  the  pleasures  of  the 
performers  to  the  delights  of  the  performances. 
There  were  such  social  occasions  as  "  spend- 
ing the  day,"  a  method  of  passing  pleasantly 
the  time  of  which  older  and  larger  communi- 
ties know  nothing.  This  consisted  of  several 
ladies  combining  to  descend  upon  a  friend  at 
ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  taking  their  work 
and  those  children,  picked  out  of  the  united 


igo  JACK     RACER 

families,  that  either  could  not  be  left  at  home, 
or  would  find  companions  in  the  house  to 
which  they  were  bent.  There  they  remained 
for  dinner  and  stayed  for  tea. 
Such  visitations  entailed  an  enormous  amount 
of  labor,  and  until  dinner  was  served  the  host- 
ess was  rarely  visible.  After  dinner,  however, 
when  the  dishes  had  been  washed  —  some  ot 
the  guests  usually  assisting  and  all  offering  their 
services  —  visiting  set  in  fast  and  furious,  and 
tea  was  but  a  slight  interruption.  Spending 
the  day  had  this  advantage  :  when  it  was  over, 
it  was  over  for  a  long  time.  The  hostess, 
meanwhile,  had  grounds  of  retaliation  on  each 
of  her  guests  in  the  same  manner,  before  they 
could  with  propriety  spend  the  day  with  her 
again. 

There  were  also  tea-drinkings,  and  evening 
parties  christened  after  whatever  fruit,  melon, 
berry,  or  other  form  of  tempting  the  appetite, 
happened  to  be  in  .season,  as  if  the  meeting 
was  only  called  to  allure  the  palate.      It  was 


CANTATA     OF    ESTHER     191 

really  the  same  old  game  of  men  and   maids, 
and  as  perennially  attractive  in  its  humble  cele- 
bration at  Pekin,  as  in  the  more  sophisticated 
ways  of  more  pretentious  places. 
There  were  fairs  for  the  firemen  and  fairs  for 
the  Pekin  band,  fairs  for  the  church  carpets 
and  fairs  for  the  heathen.     There  were,  as  we 
know,  camp-meetings  and  other  occasions  for 
picnicking;    there  were   temperance   orations 
and  missionary  meetings,  Sunday  School  cele- 
brations and  donation  parties. 
Every  event  in  Pekin  proved  a  diversion.  Even 
the   occasional    auctions,  and    immersions  in 
Martin's  pond  gave  occasion  for  assembly  and 
comment. 

The  Cantata  of  Esther  was  quite  outside  of 
these.  For  a  time  Pekin  was  off  its  reckon- 
ing.    The  name,  in  the  first  place,  was  puz- 


zling. 


In  order  to  get  the  Methodist  church,  which 
was  the  largest  in  Pekin,  it  was  necessary  to 
have  the  good-will  of  the  congregation.   There 


192  JACK    RACER 

were,  of  course,  certain  nominal  heads,  but 
these  would  never  think  of  acting  against  the 
consent  of  the  congregation,  or  even  without 
its  assent.  The  matter  was  accordingly  gen- 
erally canvassed,  and  nowhere  more  exhaus- 
tively than  in  Mrs.  Bergan's  back-yard,  where 
she  and  Miss  Samantha  Dyer  were  making 
soap  on  the  "  sheers,"  Mrs.  Bergan  furnishing 
the  lye  and  Miss  Dyer  the  grease,  the  kettle 
having  been  borrowed. 

As  Mrs.  Bergan  and  Miss  Dyer  were  sisters 
in  the  church,  they  had  a  right  to  their  "say," 
and  were  now  in  the  full  plenitude  of  their 
powers. 

"  Folks  is  purty  bad,"  said  Miss  Dyer,  chasing 
a  piece  of  ham-rind  around  the  kettle  with  her 
stick,  "  but  I  did  n'  think  they  would  be  so 
blasphernious  as  to  write  an  opery  about  Scrip- 
tur'." 

"  But  they  tell  me  it  ain't  an  opery.     It 's  a 
cantaty." 
"  'T  ain't  a   hair's-breadth    difference    'tween 


CANTATA  OF  ESTHER  193 
them.  Both  of  'em  is  caperin'  roun'  in  false 
clothes.  Throw  in  another  handful,  will  ye  ?  " 
"  As  fur  caperin',"  Mrs.  Bergan  said,  as  she 
obeyed,  "  I  heerd  the  perfessor  say  they  jus' 
held  up  their  hands  now  an'  then,  an'  walked 
roun'  singin'  the  very  Bible  words.  'T  is  n't  as 
if  they  throw'd  themselves  roun'  in  a  furrin 
tongue  sayin'  nobody  knows  what  at  ye,  like 
enough  things  yoi^  '^  blush  to  hear,  an'  you 
innercent  an'  helpless-like  sittin'  there." 
"  Well,  my  opinion  is,  an'  I  'd  say  it  if  it  was 
the  last  words  given  me  to  speak,  that  if  the 
Good  Man  meant  us  to  sing  Scriptur'  He  'd 
a-set  it  to  a  sol-fa-do  book." 
''  But  I  ain't  got  it  clear  in  my  mind  about  the 
Psalms,  Sister  Dyer." 

"I  ain't  no  use  for  Psalm-singers,  either,"  not 
catching  Mrs.  Bergan's  thought,  which  referred 
to  David  and  his  harp  of  solemn  sound,  and  not 
to  a  neighboring  sect.  "  Psalm-singers  have 
onnateral  ways.  There  was  Eliza  Ann  Mc- 
Caskey,  she  was  a  seceder,  an'  she  allays  would 
13 


194  JACK    RACER 

have  salt-raisin'  bread,  even  when  hops  vi^as 
plenty." 

"  The  perfessor  says  Solomon's  Song  was  on- 
doubtedly  meant  to  be  sung,  else  it  would  be 
Solomon's  something  else,"  suggested  Mrs. 
Bergan,  who,  having  a  daughter  who  sang  sec- 
ond in  church,  was  inclined  somewhat  toward 
the  new  prophet. 

"  Oh,  the  perfessor !  "  said  Miss  Dyer,  who, 
not  being  prepared  to  answer  this,  prudently 
made  her  views  a  mere  matter  of  emphasis. 
"  Myry  says  the  clothes  they  're  to  wear  are 
the  wonderfullest  things,  all  velvet  an'  span- 
gles, an'  not  a  scissors  set  in  'em,  as  she  could 
see.    Jus'  hang  on  some  way,  as  if  you  was  a 

peg." 

"  An'  flyin'  open,  I  make  no  doubt.  Such  con- 
ductions !  Nobody  need  n't  tell  me  that  dressin' 
up  an'  actin'  out  of  theirselves  ain't  goin'  to 
work  the  devil's  way  in  this  community.  It 
Stan's  to  reason  that  it  encourages  vain  an'  de- 
ceitful ways." 


CANTATA    OF    ESTHER     195 

"  Well,  well.  There  's  truth  in  what  you  say, 
I  don't  deny." 

"You  know  yourself.  Sister  Bergan,"  said  Miss 
Samantha,  sitting  down  on  the  woodpile  while 
Mrs.  Bergan  relieved  her  of  the  soap  stick, 
^'  that  perfessor,  as  you  are,  in  good  an'  reg'lar 
standin',  ef  you  was  to  put  on  hity-tity  clothes 
an'  go  cavortin'  roun',  you'd  git  very  light- 
mannered." 

"  As  ef  I  'd  do  sech  a  thing  I  Me  wearin' 
mournin'  fur  Bergan  now  this  ten  year ! "  Mrs. 
Bergan  exclaimed,  with  some  hauteur. 
"  Ef^  I  said ;  not  meanin'  you  would  ever 
bemean  yourself  that  a-way,  an'  we  neighbors 
boilin'  soap  together." 

"  Well,  it  won't  be  so  bad  for  them  that 's  per- 
tendin'  Esther  and  her  uncle.  Maybe  it  might 
be  a  means  of  grace  to  some.  But  I  would  n't 
be  in  that  old  Haman's  or  his  wife's  shoes  fur 
a  purty." 


CHAPTER      FOURTEEN 


XIV 

Mrs.  George  is  More  Biddable  than   She  Knows 


N  higher  circles  the  discussion 
was  as  animated,  if  different. 
Mrs.  George  never  mingled 
in  the  affairs  of  Pekin,  but  she 
would  have  taken  it  hard  not 
to  have  known  how  they  prospered. 
Now,  seated  at  her  window  with  her  needle- 
work, this  mild  October  afternoon,  she  looked 
out  from  the  dying  clematis,  still  bravely  try- 
ing to  wreathe  the  window,  as  if  unwilling  to 
acknowledge  that  its  reign  was  over  and  sum- 
mer gone,  and  saw  Jack  coming  in  the  gate. 
She  had  seen  very  little  of  him  of  late.  He 
spent  his  days  in  Sparta,  coming  home  late  ; 
when,  after  some  hasty  refreshment,  he  was  off" 
about  his  lighter  affairs.  To  make  up  for  this 
apparent  desertion.  Jack  was  more  than  usu- 


200  JACK    RACER 

allv  tciulcr  and  thoughtful  of  his  aunt  when  he 
was  with  her.  He  was  especially  considerate 
of  her  health. 

"You  aren't  in  the  open  air  enough,  Aunt 
George,"  he  said  one  day.  "•  Your  cheeks  are 
paler  than  I  like,"  stooping  to  give  each  a  gen- 
tle kiss,  which  brought  to  them  a  gratified  flush. 
"  Those  horses  are  eating  their  heads  off.  Old 
Pomp  is  as  gentle  as  a  baby,  why  don't  you  have 
him  in  the  phaeton  every  afternoon  and  take 
a  ride  ? " 

"  Your  uncle,  you  know,  can  never  go  with 
me,  and  I  don't  like  to  drive,"  she  plaintively 
answered. 

"  Get  some  women,  they  're  a  great  deal  nicer 
than  men.  There  isn't  one  of  your  kind  in 
town  that  can't  drive.  But  you  're  such  a  proud 
body.  You  're  gracious,  but  you  have  a  stand- 
off way  that  makes  everybody  stand  off —  ex- 
cept me,  who  am  a  burr  on  the  hem  of  your 
dress.  Why  don't  you  get  thick  with  some  of 
the  Pekin  feminines  ^      I  should  think  you  'd 


MRS.    GEORGE  201 

like  to  have  some  nice  girl  looking  up  to  you, 
and  petting  you.  There  's  nothing  prettier  than 
to  see  two  women  cooing.  Of  course,  from 
your  position, you'd  have  to  make  the  advances. 
They  would  n't  presume.  Now,  there  's  Laura 
Francis  —  " 

Jack  looked  up,  for  while  he  was  getting  oft 
this  speech  he  was  sitting  on  a  stool  at  his  aunt's 
feet,  plucking  at  her  dress  like  a  schoolboy. 
"  Jack,  I  can't  stand  that  girl.  She  puts  on  so 
many  airs  since  she  's  been  at  boarding-school 
in  Chicago." 

"  Then  we  '11  try  another.  Give  them  all  a 
turn  and  then  pick  out  your  girl.  That  's  the 
way  I  do." 

"You  ?  "  said  his  aunt,  secretly  flattered  by  his 
well-directed  words ;  and,  bending  over  him, 
gave  him  a  little  prick  on  the  nose  with  her 
cambric  needle. 

"  Yes.  I  've  had  experience.  I  'm  a  judge. 
Give  me  the  commission,"dodging  her  aim  and 
imprisoning  her  hands.      "  I  'U  hold  until  you 


202  JACK    RACER 

heed.  Let  me  choose  a  group  for  you.  There's 
Miss  Burke  —  " 

"  Oh,  that  's  a  girl  I  don't  think  I  like.  She's 
a  man's  woman.  She  overpowers  me." 
Jack  bent  over  and  kissed  her  hands. 
"As  if  you  little  women  couldn't  hold  your 
own  anywhere,  and  did  n't  command  the  tall- 
est Goliaths  of  us  all.  Well,  there  's  Anna 
Ross." 

"  Yes,"  said  his  aunt,  "  there  's  Anna." 
"  And  there  's  Mr.  Campbell's  niece." 
"  Yes,  she  's  pleasant-spoken  and  modest." 
"  Then  why  not  try  her?"  said  Mr.  Jack,  jump- 
ing to  his  aunt's  conclusion.    "  Of  course,  you 
know,  you  could  take  her  first,  and  then  ask 
some  one  else  if  you  find  —  that  is,  if  you  don't 
want  to  be  too  particular  in  your  attentions. 
It  would  n't  do,  of  course,  to  make  the  rest  of 
them  jealous,"  he  concluded,  less  fluently. 
"  I  suppose  not,"  agreed  his  aunt,  amiably. 
"  Now,  Aunt  George,  say  you  '11  go  this  after- 
noon," said  Jack,  eager  that  she  should  com- 


MRS.    GEORGE  203 

mit  herself.  "  Jake  's  gone  to  the  farm,  but  I  '11 
hitch  up.  We  can't  begin  too  soon  to  woo 
those  roses  back,"  concluded  this  politic  young 
nephew.  Thus  it  had  been  settled. 
Now  she  called  to  him,  and  he  came  bounding 
over  the  still  blooming  beds  of  asters  and 
made  a  place  for  himself  among  the  vines. 
"  Are  they  going  to  get  the  Methodist  church. 
Jack  ?  " 

"  Yes.  I  knew  they  would.  Did  you  have  a 
nice  ride.  Aunt  George  ?  "  he  asked  with  flat- 
tering interest. 

"  Yes,very.  Then  I  suppose  Mr.  Sparkins  has 
given  in." 

"  He  always  meant  to.  How  far  did  you  go. 
Auntie  ?  " 

"As  far  as  the  camp-meeting  ground.      Jack, 
who  's  going  to  be  Esther  ?  " 
"  Thatwill  depend  on  the  girls'  lungs.  They're 
going  to  speed  them  to-morrow.    Did  you  find 
it  very  dusty  ?  " 

"  Oh,  so-so.  I  suppose  Irene  Burke  will  have 
one  of  the  best  parts  ?  " 


204  JACK    RACER 

"  I  suppose  so.  Anna  was  in  her  usual  gale 
to-day  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  did  n't  take  her.  By  the  way,  Jack, 
if  Anna  does  n't  get  a  good  part,  there  '11  be 
trouble." 

"  I  don't  doubt  the  fur  will  fly  before  they  get 
through.  And  so  you  had  courage  enough  to 
drive  alone.  Brava,  Aunt  George,"  said  Jack, 
returning  to  his  charge. 

"  I  certainly  did  n't.  But,  Jack,  are  you  going 
to  have  anything  to  do  with  the  Cantata  ?  " 
"  I  suppose  I  '11  fetch  and  carry  for  them.  I 
certainly  don't  suppose  I  '11  have  a  tenor  solo." 
"  Oh,  Will  Triplow  will  get  that.  See  here. 
Jack,  I  did  n't  know  you  were  so  fond  of  music. 
The  other  evening  your  uncle  and  I  saw  you 
at  Mrs.  Maule's  window.  Miss  Burke  was 
playing  then,andwhen  we  came  back,  although 
we  didn't  see  you,  she  was  still  at  the  piano." 
"  Yes,  and  if  you  had  come  in,  you  would  have 
found  me  lying  on  the  sofa  on  my  face.  Music 
is  very  good  to  think  by." 


MRS.    GEORGE  205 

"  Does  Miss  Burke  allow  you  to  stretch  your- 
self so  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Irene  's  kind,"  he  drawled,  lazily.  "But 
tell  me,  Aunt  George,  are  you  feeUng  better  ? 
I  prescribed,  you  know,  and  I  have  something 
at  stake.  Your  eyes  are  bright.  There  's  noth- 
ing like  the  open  air  and  good  company." 
Jack  worked  himself  up  to  quite  a  pitch  of  en- 
thusiasm. 

"  Yes,  I  've  enjoyed  it  very  much,  and  espe- 
cially to-day.  But  tell  me.  Jack,  is  Professor 
Stivers  a  married  man  ? 

"  Confound  the  whole  business  !  "  muttered 
Jack,  kicking  the  dry  earth  with  his  heel. 
"Aunt  George,  I'll  come  in  and  tell  you  every- 
thing I  know." 

Jack  went  in, and  taking  the  straightest-backed 
chair  he  could  find,  he  placed  it  before  his  aunt 
and  sat  down  erect  and  with  folded  hands. 
"  Professor  Stivers  is  a  married  man  and  a  con- 
foundcdly  familiar  one,  too.  His  wife  will  be 
here  to-morrow.      I  don't  know  her  maiden 


2o6  JACK    RACER 

name.  The  Cantata  of  Esther  is  a  musical 
drama  written  by  some  musician  who  was  pre- 
sumably a  good  man.  It  is  in  great  repute 
among  people  who  won't  go  to  the  theatre. 
But  there  are  others,  notably  Miss  Dyer,  who 
regard  it  as  the  cloak  of  heaven  worn  to  play  the 
devil  in.  The  performance  will  take  place 
October  15th,  and  will  be  held  at  early  candle- 
lighting  in  the  Methodist  church.  Miss  Burke 
will  undoubtedly  appear  as  Zeresh,  and  Mr. 
Triplow  as  the  mournful  Mordecai.  The  pro- 
fessor himself  will  be  Haman.  For  Esther 
there  are  several  candidates,  chiefly  Miss  Anna 
Ross. 

"  The  chorus  will  include  everv  one  who  is 
young,  pretty,  and  can  sing.  Even  I  have  been 
invited.  Considering  the  high  character  of  the 
performance,  the  tickets  will  be  placed  at  fifty 
cents,  children  half  price.  I  don  't  know  that 
I  can  think  of  anything  else."  Jack  paused, 
Mrs.  George  looked  up  inquiringly,  and  Jack 
went  on  : 


MRS.    GEORGE  207 

"  That  is,  about  the  Cantata.  But  I  've  heard 
something  else.  Sarah  Boice,  it  seems,  loaned 
Jane  Maybury  a  sample  of  goods  that  she  got 
from  Chicago,  and  Malvina  Pryor  borrowed  it 
from  Jane  Maybury  and  took  it  to  Sam  Lime- 
cooly's  store  to  see  if  he  could  get  her  some 
at  the  same  price.  Then  Sam  took  the  sample 
and  sent  it  to  St.  Louis.  So  when  Sarah  asked 
Jane  Mayburv  for  the  sample,  Jane  sent  to  Mal- 
vina Pryor,  and  Malvina  had  to  confess  that 
she  had  given  it  to  Sam  Limecooly,  and  Sam 
sent  it  to  St.  Louis.  Now  Sarah  had  not  wanted 
Sam  to  know  that  she  had  sent  in  a  free  and 
easy  way  to  Chicago  for  samples,  for  the  Lime- 
coolys  and  the  Boices  belong  to  the  same  class- 
meeting.  So  she  upbraided  Jane  Maybury,  and 
Jane  Maybury  reproached  Malvina  Pryor,  and 
Malvina  sassed  them  both.  Each  lady  then  left 
in  tears,  and  now  they  don't  speak.  As  for  Sam, 
he  says  nothing,  but  I  know  he  feels  deeply." 
"  Those  women  are  always  quarrelling,"  said 
Mrs.  George,  deeply  interested. 


2o8  JACK    RACER 

"Now,  Aunt  George,"  said  Jack,  springing 

up,  and  with  a  certain  definiteness  in  his  tones, 

"  whom  did  you  take  riding  to-day  ?  " 

"  Why,  Lucy.      I  thought  I  told  you  before." 

"  Sure  enough," answered  the  young  hypocrite. 

"  You  take  her  all  the  time,  don't  you  ?  "  he 

asked,  with  evident  satisfaction. 

"  Yes,  she  is  a  real  nice  little  thing,  so  merry 

in  a  quiet  way,  and  has  such  a  pretty,  grateful 

manner  that  it's  a  pleasure  to  do  anything  for 

her." 

Jack  put  his  arms  caressingly  about  her. 

"  What  a  good  little  woman  you  are  !    I  don't 

fancy  that  girl  has  any  too  much  pleasure  in 

life,  and  it  is  mighty  fortunate  for  her  she  has 

found  such  a   friend.     One  can   feel  so  safe 

about  a  girl  in  your  hands,"  he  mumbled,  with 

his  head  on  his  aunt's  shoulder,  feeling  that 

a  somewhat   arduous   task  had  at   last  been 

crowned  with  success. 


CHAPTER       FIFTEEN 


XV 


The  Cantata  Proves  the  Mother  of  Discord 


ROFESSOR  STIVERS'S 
wife  came  the  next  day.  She 
was  a  meek  little  woman  with 
small,  straw-colored  curls  in 
front  of  her  ears.  Her  eyes 
seemed  to  have  been  originally  blue,  as  now 
seen  under  a  cloud  of  yellow  film.  She  was 
accustomed  to  follow  her  husband  whenever 
he  had  secured  a  field  for  labor  in  any  of 
his  various  capacities.  In  the  Cantata  she 
performed  the  manual  labor,  the  unfolding  and 
refolding  of  the  costumes,  the  taking  in  and  the 
letting  out,  the  unpacking  and  the  repacking. 
Her  husband  did  not  encourage  her  coming; 
on  the  contrary,  he  spoke  of  it  in  conjugal  con- 
versation as  "tagging  on."  He  would  have 
willingly  hired  a  substitute,  or  risked  enlisting 


212  JACK    RACER 

some  of  those  ladies  whose  voices  the  Cantata 
did  not  require. 

Mrs.  Stivers  was  not  offended  at  her  husband's 
plain  speech  ;  in  fact,  she  supposed  it  to  be  that 
usually  current  between  husbands  and  wives. 
She  liked  going  about  and  meeting  new  people. 
She  was  proud  of  the  triumphs  of  the  Can- 
tata ;  and  above  all  she  delighted  in  seeing  her 
husband  in  the  rich  robes  of  the  haughty  Ha- 
man.  He  was  her  ideal  prince,  and  she  was 
very  happy  to  be  the  wife  of  a  man  who  in  his 
gilt  crown  and  velvet  clothes  might  have  well 
consorted  with  Queen  Victoria. 
The  day  of  the  voice  trial,  as  it  was  called, 
came  off.  The  choruses  had  been  learned  by 
all  the  available  singers  in  Pekin,  and  had  oc- 
cupied the  leisure  evenings  for  two  weeks. 
The  difficulty  of  casting  the  Cantata  arose  from 
the  competition  between  the  different  choirs, 
each  feeling  that  if  it  secured  the  best  or  the 
greatest  number  of  parts  its  future  superiority 
would  be  established. 


MOTHER  OF  DISCORD  213 
To  Miss  Burke  came  the  easy  conquest  which 
usually  falls  to  persons  of  large  and  luxurious 
personality  Bv  common  consent  she  was 
given  the  part  of  Zeresh.  Will  Triplow 
seemed  equally  foreordained  for  the  plaintive 
Mordecai.  Haman  belonged  to  the  professor. 
It  was  not  so  easy  to  dispose  of  Esther.  Anna 
Ross  wanted  the  part  and  meant  to  have  it ; 
meanwhile  there  were  several  other  girls  who 
might  reasonablv  indulge  a  hope.  There  w^ere 
also  several  smaller  parts,  —  handmaidens,  her- 
alds, captains  of  the  guard,  with  their  various 
attendants.  For  each  of  these  there  were  sev- 
eral candidates. 

But  the  first  thing  was  to  dispose  of  Esther. 
The  professor  knew  of  Anna  Ross's  expec- 
tations. He  had  no  objection  to  her  voice, 
which  was  the  largest  and  clearest  in  Pekin, 
but  her  vivacious  manners  did  not  accord  with 
the  professor's  idea  of  the  gentle  Esther.  In 
this  he  was  correct,  for  an  Esther  of  Anna's 
temperament  would  readily  have  disposed  of 


2X4  JACK     RACER 

the  recalcitrant  Vashti.  But  to  himself  the 
professor  confided  the  fact  that  he  did  not  take 
to  Anna  Ross,  and  as  there  was  a  good  deal  of 
rehearsing,  he  preferred  to  have  somebody 
agreeable  to  himself. 

He  was  immensely  satisfied  with  Aliss  Burke, 
with  whom,  in  the  Cantata,  he  was  especially 
allied.  But  that  was  no  reason  he  should  not 
have  another  pleasing  person  in  the  cast.  For 
this  reason  he  had  instituted  his  voice  trial,  that 
he  might  inspect  the  possible  Esthers  critically 
with  his  black  and  beady  eyes. 
Anna  Ross  did  not  mind  all  this  preliminary. 
She  was  perfectly  sure  of  her  own  mind 
and  if  the  professor  wanted  "  to  fool  round, 
and  the  girls  were  silly  enough  to  think 
they  had  a  chance,"  as  she  put  it,  she  did  n't 
care. 

Now,  in  the  middle  of  a  group  which  included 
Irene  Burke  and  Jack  Racer  sitting  lazily  in 
the  end  of  a  pew,  Anna  was  in  high  spirits, 
commenting  on  everything  that  went  on,  and 


MOTHER  OF  DISCORD  215 
freely  on  the  essays  that  were  taking  place  at 
the  cabinet  organ, 

Lucy  was  seated  by  Mrs.  Stivers,  who  was 
taking  in  the  neck  of  Mordecai's  robe  of  woe, 
to  meet  the  slender  demands  of  Will  Triplow's 
neck ;  even  here  she  did  not  escape  the  pro- 
fessor's searching  glance. 
"■  We  are  not  through  with  our  gentle  friends 
yet,"  he  said  in  a  manner  which  if  not  arch 
failed  in  its  intention.  "  Our  nest  is  full  of 
song-birds  this  year,"  expending  on  Lucy  his 
most  winning  glance.  "  And  not  one  shy 
warbler  shall  escape,"  he  continued,  directing 
his  words  to  her  more  expressly. 
"Come,  Miss  Lucy.  No  hiding  behind  our 
wife's  skirts.  Our  eyes  are  sharp  and  our  ears 
are  quick  to  hear  the  sound  of  music  in  a 
maiden's  voice,"  he  persisted,  in  a  style  formed 
on  his  familiarity  with  the  language  of  the 
Cantata. 

Professor  Stivers's  speech  did  not  fail  to  arrest 
the  attention  of  the  room.      The  girls  ceased 


2i6  JACK    RACER 

talking.  Jack  Racer  moved  uneasily  in  his 
seat. 

"  Make  him  stop  !  Oh,  do  make  him  stop  !  " 
Lucy  whispered  to  Mrs.  Stivers.  "  I  can't  bear 
to  have  him  talk  and  look  at  me  that  way." 
"  Make  him  stop  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Stivers,  in  a  be- 
wildered way,  not  knowing  how  to  receive  the 
inference  of  authority  on  her  part. 
"Yes.  Everybody's  looking.  Tell  him  to 
hush." 

"  Tell  him  to  hush  ?  "  murmured  Mrs.  Stivers. 
"  Yes,  quick  !  Tell  him  to  shut  up  !  "  insisted 
poor  Lucy. 

"  Oh,  but  you  must  go.  You  must  go  when 
bespeaks.  He '11  stop  then." 
At  length,  under  all  this  distressing  attention, 
Lucy  went  blushing  down  the  aisle. 
"  Alleluia  !  We  have  won  her  !  "  cried  the 
professor  in  high  glee,  circling  his  hand  in 
the  air  as  he  had  taught  his  chorus  to  do  in 
the  grand  march,  and  as  Lucy  passed  around 
the  cabinet  organ  he  put  his  arm  around  her 


MOTHER    OF    DISCORD    217 

waist   in    his  semi-parental   and   professional 
manner. 

"  Impudent  puppy  !  "  Jack  muttered,  and 
springing  from  his  seat,  walked  over  to  a  small 
footstool  and  kicked  it  viciously.  Then  he 
went  outdoors,  where  his  foot  recorded  in  vio- 
lent twinges  the  excess  of  his  rage. 
"So  help  me,  how  I  hate  music,"  he  said,  as 
he  walked  rapidly  down  the  street,  until  the 
sweet  sounds  that  came  floating  through  the 
church  windows  could  no  longer  be  heard. 
Irene  Burke  was  not  unconscious  of  the  cause 
of  Jack's  sudden  flight.  For  some  time  she 
had  understood  that  young  gentleman's  moods 
and  vagaries,  spasmodic  devotion  and  coldness, 
more  clearly  than  he  admitted  to  himself.  She 
knew  perfectly  well  her  own  power  over  him, 
and  how  to  exercise  it.  She  knew  why  at 
times  he  yielded  so  willingly  and  again  why  he 
resisted.  She  looked  now  at  Anna's  clouding 
brow. 
For  the  first  time  Anna  Ross  felt  doubtful  of 


2i8  JACK    RACER 

the  easy  success  of  her  plans.  Lucy  had  fin- 
ished, and  the  professor,  patting  her  on  the 
shoulder  as  she  hastily  moved  away,  exclaimed 
unctuously  : 

"  We  will  see,  ah  !  we  will  see.  This  voice 
needs  a  little  strengthening  here,  a  little  urging 
there,  but  the  jewel  is  in  the  casket,  the  bird 
is  in  the  cage.  Shall  we  let  it  out,  shall  we 
allow  it  to  try  its  wings  ?  Ah,  that  is  the 
question." 

"  Lucy  has  n't  much  voice,  but  she  would  look 
the  part."      Irene  turned  to  Anna. 
"  It  is  n't  that  at  all.     Professor  Stivers  wants 
her.      He  knows  very  well  that  my  voice  is  a 
thousand  times  better.     But  he  wants  her." 
Lucy  had  gone  back  to  her  seat  and  the  pro- 
fessor stood  looking  after  her. 
As  Anna  said,  he  wanted  her.     There  would 
be  a   satisfaction  in  training  this   shy   young 
thing  that  he  could  not  hope  to  find  with  Miss 
Ross,  who  very  likely  would  undertake  to  train 
him. 


MOTHER  OF  DISCORD  219 
"•  He  does  not  know  her  position  at  Camp- 
bells'," suggested  Irene. 

"  Well,  we  all  wash,  iron,  and  cook,  except 
you." 

"  But  we  don't  take  money  for  it.  That  makes 
all  the  difference  in  the  world  between  a  lady 
and  a  hired  girl." 

Anna  did  not  answer,  but  stood  in  moody  si- 
lence. 

"Professor,"  called  Irene,  with  an  imperative 
nod  of  the  head,  such  as  is  not  unbecoming  a 
pretty  woman. 

••'My  spouse  calls,  I  must  obey,"  cried  the  pro- 
fessor gallantly  appearing  before  her  with  a 
low  salaam. 

"  Really,  we  ought  to  get  to  work.  I  am  fright- 
ened already,"  she  said,  with  a  becoming  little 
shiyer. 

"  What,  the  haughty  Zeresh  knoweth  fear  ?  " 
throwing  up  his  hands  in  eloquent  appeal  to 
heayen  to  sustain  his  incredulity. 
"  I  suppose,"  said  Anna,  "  when  you  've  been 


220  JACK     RACER 

through  all  the  kitchens  and  stahleyards  you'll 
be  ready  to  go  on." 

The  professor  understood  nothing  more  than 
that  his  hour  had  apparently  come. 
"Oh,  Haman  and  Esther  is  only  another  ver- 
sion of  King  Cophetua  and  the  beggar  maid," 
laughed  Irene.  "  Miss  Ross  is  alluding  to  your 
last  candidate." 
The  professor  rallied. 

"  Really,  that  little  lady  has  quite  a  good  voice. 
I  consider  it  particularly.  Miss  Burke,  because 
it  would  blend  so  admirably  with  your  rich  alto 
in  that  elegant  quartette,  'What  shall  be  done 
with  the  man  whom  the  king  delighteth  to  hon- 
or ?  '  I  have  to  think  of  the  ensemble^  as  every 
man  must  do  that  gives  up  his  life  to  his  art." 
The  professor  congratulated  himself  that  this 
was  a  very  neat  way  to  clinch  his  determina- 
tion, which  was  now  clearly  formed.  But  the 
professor  did  not  estimate  rightly  the  resources 
of  women  who  also  have  their  minds  clearly 
formed.    Irene  felt  her  domination  threatened 


MOTHER    OF    DISCORD    221 

in  two  directions.  The  professor's  view  of  his 
art  had  not  deceived  her. 

"  Well,  you  see  Lucy  is  n't  exactly  one  of  us, 
and  it  seems  sort  of  funny,  if  you  want  the 
Cantata  to  go  off  with  eclat^  to  give  her  one 
of  the  best  parts." 

"  You  grieve  me,  really,"  said   the  professor, 
more   determined   than   before.      "  She  seems 
very  decent  behaved." 
Anna  laughed  contemptuously. 
"  Irene  talks  too  fine  for  you.  Professor.   She 
only   means  Lucy   is  a    hired   girl,  and    Miss 
Burke  is  n't  accustomed  to  singing  with  peo- 
ple who  wash  dishes  for  a  living." 
"  Stop  that !  "  said  a  quick,  rough  voice  behind 
them,  where  Jack  Racer  stood  with  Will  Trip- 
low.    "Fine  womanly  sort  of  talk  !    But  don't 
let  us  have  any  more  of  it." 
"  Indeed,  Jack,  it  was  n't  I.      It  was  Anna," 
said   Irene  hastily,  crimsoning    under  Jack's 
rebuke. 
"  You  lie,  Irene  Burke  !  "    And  Anna,  at  bay. 


222  JACK    RACER 

Jack  's  blazing  eyes  confronting  her,  raised  her 
hand  and  brought  it  down  in  a  resounding  slap 
on  Irene's  cheek. 

The  significant  sound  called  the  attention  of 
the  entire  room.  The  sudden  silence  became 
appalling.  The  tears  rolled  down  Irene's 
cheeks.  Jack  was  stony,  but  the  sympathetic 
glance  of  the  professor  met  her  eye,  and  she 
laid  her  head  like  a  child  on  his  shoulder  and 
sobbed  away. 

Still  no  one  spoke,  until  Will  Triplow  heroic- 
ally cast  himself  into  the  yawning  gulf  of 
silence. 

"  Ahem  !  Don't  you  think  we  are  going  to 
have  rain.  Professor  ?  As  I  came  in  just  now 
I  thought  I  saw  clouds  in  the  sky." 
Jack  turned  on  his  heel,  with  a  short,  brutal 
laugh,  that  caused  Will  to  gaze  with  wonder- 
ing reproach  after  him,  as  he  moved  away. 
But  Will's  honest  endeavor  had  performed  its 
mission.  The  silence  was  broken  and  the  noise 
of  many  voices  arose,  discussing  the  situation. 


MOTHER    OF    DISCORD    223 
Jack   Racer  walked   down  the  aisle  to  where 
Lucy  and  Mrs.  Stivers  sat. 
"  Why  is  Miss  Burke  crying  on  my  husband's 
shoulder  ?  " 

Mrs.  Stivers  asked,  not  because  she  thought 
of  objecting  to  Miss  Burke's  crying  on  her 
husband's  shoulder,  but  onlv  stating  it  as  a  part 
of  the  fact,  and  with  that  insistence  on  details 
which  some  people  observe. 
"Oh,  some  woman's  row.  It  will  soon  blow 
over." 

"Lucy,"  said  he,  "  I  met  Billy  Campbell  just 
now,  and  he  told  me  that  his  cousin  Sarah 
Jackson  and  three  other  cousins  have  come 
over  from  Lima,  and  Aunt  Kiz  said  she  did  n't 
know  what  she  would  give  them  to  eat.  So 
I've  brought  the  news  to  you,  for  I  fancied 
Aunt  Kiz  wanted  you." 

"  Oh,  poor  Aunt  Kiz,  she  is  all  alone.  Aunt 
Sally  is  laid  up  with  her  jaw.  I  '11  go  right 
away.  I  've  been  gone  so  long,"  she  added  re- 
proachfully, gathering  up  her  needles  and  thread. 


224  JACK    RACER 

Jack  felt  satisfied,  but  not  wholly  satisfied. 
He  meant  to  see  her  safely  out  of  the  door, 
at  least. 

"  Lucy,"  he  said,  as  they  walked  to  the  door, 
"you  don't  care  about  this  thing  —  the  Can- 
tata —  do  you  ?  " 

"  Why,  no.  I  only  fill  in.  I  thought  I  'd  help 
that  poor  Mrs.  Stivers,  she  has  such  a  lot  to 
do." 

"I  wish  you'd  help  me.  You  see,  I've  let 
Aunt  George  in  for  a  lot  of  work.  I  've  prom- 
ised she  shall  make  the  colored  paper  rosettes 
to  trim  the  church,  and  I  know  she  depends 
on  you  to  help  her.  I  can't  bear  to  have  her 
disappointed,  because  she  seems  to  have  taken 
a  sort  of  fancy  to  you." 
"Jack,  she's  been  so  kind." 
"  But,  you  see,  if  you  help  her  you  can't  be  at 
rehearsals." 

"  I  don't  care.  I'll  be  glad  to  get  out  of  it." 
"  Then  I  know  she  has  been  rather  depending 
on   you  to  go  to  the   performance  with   her. 


MOTHER   OF   DISCORD    225 

Log   chains   and    oxen   would  n't   get    Uncle 
George  there,  and   of  course    I   have   to   be 
snuffing  candles  and   turning  down  smoking 
lamps  all  evening."     Jack  laughed   in  an  un- 
naturally hilarious  manner. 
'^  How  nice  of  your  aunt  to  think  of  me  !    Of 
course  I  '11  only  be  too  glad  to  go." 
"  Then  good-by.     It 's  all  settled.' 
"  Yes.      Good-by." 

"  Geewhillikins,  won't  I  have  to  manage  Aunt 
George  about  those  rosettes  !  "  said  Mr.  Racer 
to  himself,  as  he  ceased  from  watching  a  blithe 
step  around  the  corner. 


15 


CHAPTER      SIXTEEN 


XVI 

A   Situation  More  Perilous  Than  it  Seems 

I H  E  performance  of  the  Cantata 
surpassed  expectations.  Noth- 
'''^  ing  that  compared  with  it  had 
ever  before  been  seen  in  Pckin. 
The  little  disturbance  that  for 
a  time  threatened  the  harmony  of  the  occasion 
was  easily  allayed  by  giving  Anna  Ross  the  part 
of  Esther.  To  this,  after  Lucy's  withdrawal, 
the  professor  had  no  objections. 
Now  that  Anna  had  gained  her  end,  the  tem- 
porary check  to  her  plans  and  some  shame  at 
her  exhibition  of  temper,made  her  quite  charm- 
ing. She  gracefullvconsented  to  speak  first  to 
Irene,  a  thing  which  from  childhood  she  had 
vowed  never  to  do,  and  her  degree  of  amiability 
must  be  estimated  from  her  previous  standpoint 
on  the  etiquette  of  making  up. 


230  JACK     RACER 

During  the  rest  of  the  rehearsals  the  two  girls 
were  ever  seen  with  their  arms  around  one  an- 
other's waists.  As  Esther,  Anna  now  showed 
a  chastened  demeanor  that  accorded  well  with 
the  character,and  might  easily  have  been  taken 
for  acting. 

Anna  had  a  conscious  feeling  that  she  was  not 
quite  herself,  and  enjoyed  the  sensation.  In 
truth,  all  the  performers  began  to  suspect  in 
themselves  newly  awakening  talent  that  only 
needed  exercise  and  encouragement  to  bring 
fame  within  easy  reach.  Such  belief  in  pos- 
sibilities contained  for  them  greater  sources  of 
comfort  than  anyfulfilment  can  ever  hold, since 
all  chances  of  failure  have  first  been  eliminated. 
The  Cantata  was  given  several  times.  Many 
people  came  even  from  Sparta,  where  there 
is  an  opera  house  in  the  Palace  Block,  which, 
being  attached  to  the  Indianapolis  amusement 
circuit, was  in  the  track  of  performances  on  the 
road. 
This  was  an  honor  that  no  one  had  anticipated 


A    PERILOUS    SITUATION    231 

and  set  the  final  seal  of  approval  on  the  per- 
formances at  Pekin. 

The  delights  of  wearing  false  clothes  had  not 
been  exaggerated  by  Miss  Dyer.  Charades 
were  revived  and  flourished  as  never  before, 
until  an  ambitious  attempt  to  get  up  a  charade, 
published  with  stage  instructions  in  the  Lady's 
Book,  was  begun. 

In  the  professional  '■^asides"  "  exits,"  and  mys- 
terious initals,  some  discriminating  souls  found 
sources  of  danger  that  did  not  exist  in  the  go- 
as-you-please  charades  to  which  Pekin  society 
was  accustomed,  and  the  town  was  soon  in- 
volved in  a  new  discussion  of  niorals.  That 
they  were  not  wholly  wrong  was  seen  in  the 
fact  that  occasional  barnstormers  now  came 
to  Pekin  and  found  audiences  respectable  in 
size,  which  listened  to  them  with  cold  and 
critical  expressions  of  approval  and  disapproval. 
Jack  Racer  had  resumed  his  daily  journeys  to 
Sparta  after  the  quarrel  of  the  girls,  keeping 
out  of  the  wav  with  that  discretion  which  many 


232  JACK    RACER 

a  man  has  learned  before  Mr.  Racer,  and  which 
all  men  find  easy  to  practise. 
But  Jack  did  not  fail  to  be  on  hand  when  his 
services  were  needed.  On  the  evening  of  the 
performance  his  zeal  for  the  lamps, his  manage- 
ment of  windows,  his  gallantry  in  piloting  ma- 
trons up  the  crowded  aisles,  in  tucking  away 
children,  his  cleverness  in  finding  seats  for  late 
comers,  his  ready  tongue  and  ready  smiles,  per- 
formed valuable  service  in  keeping  the  house 
in  good  humor  until  the  usual  vicissitudes  on 
the  stage  finally  allowed  the  curtain  to  go  up. 
After  the  Cantata  was  over,  it  really  seemed 
that  Jack  Racer  had,  as  it  were,  carried  the 
whole  performance  on  his  shoulders.  Cer- 
tainly, his  share  in  the  success  was  out  of  all 
proportion  to  that  of  those  who  had  borne  the 
heat  and  burden  of  theoccasion,and  especially  to 
that  of  Will  Triplow,who  had  nearly  smothered 
under  the  weight  of  Mordecai's  neckcloth. 
Irene  Burke  kept  up  her  lessons  atSparta  and,as 
usual,  came  home  with  Jack  in  the  cars,  or  be- 


A  PERILOUS  SITUATION  233 
hind  Fancy.  But  at  Pekin  Jack's  absence  had 
left  the  professor  an  easy  field. 
One  warm  afternoon  shortly  after  the  perform- 
ance,as  Irene  came  bythe  Palace  Block  she  saw 
Jack  coming  out  of  the  court-house  door.  Lin- 
gering, ostensibly  to  inspect  the  festooned  rib- 
bons,chains  of  collars,  and  boxes  of  ruchingand 
other  feminine  gear  in  the  broad  and  imposing 
windows  of  the  "  New  York  Store,"  in  order 
that  Jack  might  see  and  overtake  her,  she  saw 
him  joined  by  a  group  of  lawyers,  each  of  whom 
shook  hands  with  him  amid  a  general  air  of 
good  fellowship. 

When  released.  Jack  hurried  across  the  street. 
There  was  a  smile  on  his  face  and  less  of  his 
usual  alertness  of  manner.  Evidently  he  did 
not  see  her.  Irene  watched  him  with  some 
curiosity  as  he  came  toward  her,  and  felt  a  cer- 
tain and  unusual  remoteness. 
"Jack!"  She  placed  herself  in  his  path.  "Come 
down  from  the  clouds." 
"You,  Rene.?"  the  smile  flitting.    "Clouds.? 


234  JACK    RACER 

No." 

"  It  is  Thursday." 

"  Sure  enough.  I  was  n't  thinking  of  it  by  that 
name.  I  suppose  you  are  ready  to  go  home." 
"Yes,  I  hurried.  Have  you  Fancy  .''  I  want 
you  to  take  me  the  old  road." 
They  went  silently  to  the  shed  where  Fancy 
was  stalled,  and  Jack  handed  her  into  the  buggy. 
"Jack,"  she  asked,  "what  was  all  that  hand- 
shaking about  in  the  court-house  yard  ?  " 
"  Congratulations,"  he  answered  briefly,  snap- 
ping the  purple  blossoms  from  the  dusty  iron- 
weed. 

"On  what  ?  " 

"  On  my  having  swallowed  a  certain  amount 
of  law  without  perceptible  injury." 
"  Is  that  what  you  've  been  coming  to  Sparta 
for?  "      She  looked  at  him  as  if  prompted  by 
a  sudden  thought. 
Jack  nodded. 

"  You  have  kept  your  secret  well,"  she  said, 
with  some  bitterness. 


A    PERILOUS    SITUATION     235 

"  You  would  n't  want  mc  to  advertise  probable 

failure  or  possible  collapse  ?  " 

"  Oh,  you  '11  never  fail.      You  '11  always  get 

what  you  want."      Irene  looked  away. 

"I   hope    so,   for   I'm    conscious    of   several 

wants." 

"  Have  you  had  them  long  ?  "   She  turned  again. 

"They  're  young  still,  but  they  're  growing," 

throwing  up  his  head  joyfully. 

"Jack,  Professor  Stivers  thinks  I  'm  foolish  to 

give  lessons,"  she  said,  after  a  time. 

"  What  does  he  suggest  ?      Cantatas  ?     Your 

Zeresh  to  his  Haman  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  think  of  it  ?  " 

"  The  question  is  what  do  you  think  of  it  — 

of  how  much  you  can  stand."   Jack,  who  was 

bending  over,  his  arms  on  his  knees,  turned  and 

looked  up  into  her  face. 

"  It  would  be  easier  than   hammering  music 

into  louts  of  children.    Besides,  Jack,  it  might 

be  a  stepping-stone." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  care  a  fig  for  your  cold-blooded 


236  JACK    RACER 

arguments.  Your  instincts  ought  to  be  suffi- 
cient." 

"  My  instincts  !  What  have  they  got  to  do  with 
it  ?  " 

"  That  can't  be  argued.      If  you  don't  feel  the 
truth  of  what  I  say,  all  my  newly-acquired  right 
to  plead  can't  convince  you." 
Irene  bent  forward.       Beneath  his  gaze  were 
her  beautiful  eves,  her  full,  rosy  lips.    She  laid 
her  hand  on  his  arm. 
"Try,  Jack." 
Jack  raised  his  head. 

"  You  'II  soil  your  glove.  My  arm  is  covered 
with  dust."  Their  eyes  met,  and  Jack's  serene 
face  left  Irene  with  a  cold,  sickening  sense  of 
failure. 

As  Jack  turned  away,  pretending  some  need 
of  Fancy's,  the  blood  crept  into  his  face.  He 
felt  as  if  he  had  been  using  a  dagger  and  shrank 
guiltily  from  the  sight  of  the  wound. 
But  Irene  mistook  his  manner  and  her  courage 
revived. 


A    PERILOUS    SITUATION    237 
"  Jack,  you  did  n't  approve  of  the  professor's 
devotion  to  us  girls."      She  laughed  lightly. 
"  It  did  n't  seem  to  be  so  much  a  question  of 
morals  as  of  taste." 
"  Oh,  you  're  a  man." 
"  Yes,  at  last,"  he  said,  as  if  to  himself. 
Irene  turned  and  gave  him  a  quick  look,  but 
Jack  was  dislodging  a  horsefly  from   Fancy's 
flank.      She  sank  back  again  into  her  seat,  and 
a  look  of  determination  brought  out   unsus- 
pected lines  about  her  pleasure-loving  mouth. 
"  Jack,  what  is  the  matter  with  you  ?     Are  you 
jealous  of  the  professor  ?  " 
Jack  laughed  a  low  laugh. 
"  By  Heaven,  you  do  him  too  much  honor." 
"  You  are  very  arrogant.     The  girls  all  wanted 
his  notice." 

"  How  could  that  concern  me?  " 
Irene  bit  her  lips,  and  impotent  tears  rushed  to 
her  eyes. 

"  It  was  you  who  got  Lucy  to  withdraw,"  she 
said,  making  blindly  for  her  fate. 


238  JACK    RACER 

"Yes." 
«  Why  ?  " 

"  Because,"  Jack  sat  up  once  more  and  looked 
at  her.     "  Because  I  did  n't  mean  she  should 
stand  the  insolence  of  you  girls,  or  be  pawed 
over  by  that  greasy  Stivers." 
"  If  you  are  so  awfully  careful  of  her,  I  sup- 
pose you  mean  to  marry  her  ?  " 
"  I  think  too  much  of  her  for  that,"  Jack  an- 
swered, leaning  again  on  his  knees. 
Irene  began  to  cry  silently.     Jack  did  not  look 
up.     He  heard  no  sound,  but  he  felt  her  silence 
was  being  employed  in  that  way.      It  was  not 
a  comfortable  position.     Jack  had  a  shivering 
dread  of  tears  but  none  of  the  impatience  at  their 
gentle  flow  that  is  supposed  to  be  a  characteris- 
tic of  his  sex. 

Bent  over,  he  could  almost  realize  their  soft 
patter  on  his  back.  He  wished  she  would  n't, 
but  his  ear  was  alert  to  catch  the  faintest  sob, 
although  he  knew  it  would  oblige  him  to  take 
more  obvious  notice  of  their  fall. 


A  PERILOUS  SITUATION  239 
He  felt  her  grope  for  her  pocket,  and  knew  why 
she  required  her  handkerchief.  It  seemed  to 
mark  a  stage  in  her  grief.  He  felt  like  a 
hypocrite,  and  called  himself  a  spy,  scorn- 
ing the  ridiculous  thought  that  he  was  spy- 
ing with  his  ears.  They  caught  a  hasty 
swallow,  a  significant  sound  in  Irene's 
throat. 

"  You  made  me  say  it,  Irene.  I  never  admitted 
as  much  to  myself  before.  But  I  've  said  it. 
It  stands." 

Irene's  silent  tears  broke  into  low  sobs.  Jack 
could  stand  it  no  longer.  He  turned  to  her 
tenderly. 

"  Don't  cry,  Irene.  The  —  the  occasion  is  n't 
worth  a  tear,"  he  said  modestly. 
She  did    not  answer,  but  put  up  her  hands  to 
screen  her  face. 

Jack  drew  them  gently  down.  The  quivering 
mouth,  the  teardrops  hanging  from  her  long 
lashes,  her  brilliant  eyes  shining  through  their 
veil  of  tears,  gave   Irene  a  more  entrancing 


240  JACK    RACER 

beautv  than  she  had  ever  possessed  in  her  more 
confident  moods. 

Jack  realized  this  as  in  a  swift  vision,  but  it  left 
him  unmoved.  As  he  stroked  softly  her  im- 
prisoned hands,  Irene's  head  fell  on  his  shoulder 
and  she  broke  into  violent  vi^eeping. 
He  took  up  her  handkerchief,  now  moist  with 
tears,  and  laid  it  reverently  down.  He  then 
drew  out  his  own  and  tenderly  dried  her  eyes. 
Irene  submitted  for  a  moment  to  his  soothing 
touch.  Then  the  scarcely  perceptible  fra- 
grance of  Jack's  handkerchief  recalled  associa- 
tions, and  a  wave  of  emotion  swept  over  her. 
She  snatched  the  handkerchief  from  his  hand 
and  pressed  it  violently  to  her  lips.  Jack  raised 
his  hand  in  deprecation,  the  blood  rushed  to  his 
face  and  he  blushed  like  a  girl. 
They  were  approaching  the  cross-roads,  the 
sparse  wood  half  screening,  but  only  half 
screening  them.  As  they  turned.  Fancy  tak- 
ing her  own  gait,  some  people  with  curious  eyes 
drove  by  them  in  a  buggy  from  the  Lima  road. 


A    PERILOUS    SITUATION    241 

"  Who  was  that,  Jack  ?      Did  they  sec  mc  cry- 
ing ?  " 

"  It  was  Jimmy  Bergan's  rig." 
"  It   was   Samantha    Dyer's   bonnet,"    added 
Irene.     "  Let  us  hurry,  Jack.     I  want  to  send 
a  letter  on  the  five-forty-nine." 
Jack  took  up  his  lines  and  with  no  more  words 
they  sped  into  Pekin. 


16 


CHAPTER      SEVENTEEN 


XVII 

The  Squire  Plans  a  Campaign  and  a  Career 

|HE  news  that  Jack  Racer  had 
been  admitted  to  the  bar  shook 
Pekin  to  its  centre.  It  was  wholly 
outside  of  the  probabilities.  It 
was  well  known  that  Jack  Racer 
cared  onl)-  for  his  pleasures  and  was  incapable 
of  persistence.  Yet  no  one  could  count  read- 
ing law  a  pleasure,  and  it  appeared  that  he  had 
been  "  at  it  "  some  time.  This  last  fact,indeed, 
evokedsome  resentment,  for  no  one  had  known 
it,  although  Jack's  comings  and  goings  were 
matters  of  common  repute. 
Punning  was  not  disdained  at  Pekin,  so  that 
there  was  scarcely  a  household  in  which  some 
one  had  not  remarked :  "To  the  bar  ?  Yes,  at 
the  Home  Circle,"  alluding  to  the  well-known 


246  JACK     RACER 

saloon  in  the  Palace  Block.  But  as  incre- 
dulity was  forced  finally  to  give  way  to  belief, 
the  news  became  truly  marvellous  and  excluded 
all  other  topics  of  discussion. 
Even  Squire  George  found  it  difficult  to  rec- 
oncile with  his  previous  knowledge  of  Jack's 
character.  He  was  fond  of  the  boy  ;  for  one 
reason,  he  was  a  favorite  sister's  child.  But 
also  because  Jack  possessed  some  winning 
traits  that  had  surely  found  a  way  to  the  legal 
heart.  But  he  had  long  since  ceased  to  expect 
anything  serious  of  his  nephew. 
Since  Jack  had  told  him  the  evening  before,  he 
had  thought  a  good  deal  about  it,  and  before 
morning  had  carried  his  nephew  in  his  mind 
through  a  long  and  highly  prosperous  career. 
This  morning  he  felt  so  committed  to  it  that 
he  was  impatient  of  delay,and  now  after  break- 
fast he  ascended  the  light  outside  stairs  to  Jack's 
den,  a  place  he  rarely  frequented,  being  averse 
to  stairs  and  particularly  to  the  frail  structure 
which  easily  bore  Jack's  slim  figure. 


THE    SQUIRE  247 

He  had  not  consulted  with  himself  as  to  how 
he  should  introduce  Jack  to  the  future  he  had 
arranged  for  him  with  such  affectionate  care, 
and  now  felt  somewhat  appalled  at  the  pros- 
pect. If  Squire  George  had  not  been  such  a 
large  man,  and  the  stairs  had  not  given  such 
warning  creaks  in  his  ascent,  probably  he  would 
have  turned  and  incontinently  fled.  But  this 
everything  rendered  impossible,  and  fortifying 
himsel  f  with  fresh  courage,  he  entered  the  room . 
"  Good  !  "  Jack  exclaimed,  sweeping  off  the 
papers  from  an  easy  chair.  "  Sit  down.  Uncle. 
You  don't  often  visit  me." 
Squire  George  sat  down  in  the  chair. 
"  Pretty  comfortable,"  he  said,  looking  around 
him,  and  adjusting  himself.  "We  don't  seem 
to  have  anything  in  the  house  that  fits  a  man 
as  well  as  this.  Jack,  you  know  how  to  keep 
things  pretty  well  cushioned,"  he  said,  falling 
into  his  old  view  of  his  nephew's  character. 
"  Yes,  sir.  I  try  to  make  it  as  easy  for  my- 
self as  I  can." 


248  JACK    RACER 

Squire  George  cast  a  glance  about  the  room. 
It  did  not  appear  to  be  that  pi'  a  man  who 
burned  the  midnight  oil,  except  to  get  him  to 
bed.  There  were  certainly  no  evidences  that 
even  a  comparatively  serious  law  student  was 
its  inmate.  After  this  scrutiny  he  picked  up 
a  paper  and  became  apparently  engrossed  in  its 
contents. 

Jack  left  him  to  his  reading  and  moved  around 
the  room,  putting  away  "his  things  "  like  a  girl. 
Over  the  top  of  the  paper  his  uncle's  eyes  fol- 
lowed him.  Jack  was  not  unconscious  of  this 
scrutiny,  and  partially  divined  his  uncle's  state  of 
mind.  With  some  mischief  he  turned  suddenly 
now  and  then  toward  him,  when  Squire  George 
as  suddenly  resumed  his  reading  with  great  zeal. 
As  Jack  stopped  for  a  moment  to  finger  over 
a  bowl  of  late  roses,  his  uncle  threw  down  the 
paper. 

"  Jack,  your  aunt  was  palavering  so  at  the  break- 
fast table,  I  did  n't  say  much.  I'm  free  to  con- 
fess I  did  n't  think  it  was  in  you." 


THE    SQUIRE  249 

Jack  turned,  leaning  on  his  bureau. 

'•  Thanks,  Uncle.     I  'm  trying  to  think  you  've 

complimented  me,  and,  true  to  my  instincts,  I 

appropriate  it.      But  frankness  for  frankness, 

I  was  n't  sure  of  myself." 

"  I  suppose  you  have  some  sort  of  plans  for  the 

future  in  your  head  ?  "the  squire  ventured,  with 

a  timidity  comical  to  the  young  man,  if  he  had 

not  been  touched  by  it.     "  Of  course,  I  don't 

want  to  bother  you,  or  hurry  you  —  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Jack,  dropping  into  a  chair.  "  But 

have  a  cigar.  Uncle."    He  sprang  up  and  handed 

a  box  to  choose  from,  drawing  up  a  table  with 

some  luxurious  bronze  equipments.  The  squire 

chose  his  cigar  with  care  and  surveyed  Jack's 

conveniences  with  hesitation,  then  used  them 

with  lingering  curiosity. 

"  'Pon  my  word.  Jack,  you  do  make  yourself 

pretty  comfortable.      Do  you  get  these  cigars 

from  Limecooly  ?  " 

"  Prime,  ain't  they  ?     Sam  gets  them  for  me 

at  St.  Louis." 


250  JACK    RACER 

The  squire  leaned  back  in  his  chair  puffing  his 
cigar  leisurely,  and  Jack  pushed  a  foot-rest  un- 
der his  feet. 

"  Jack,  this  is  lamentable,"  the  squire  suddenly 
said,  after  enjoying  for  a  moment  his  position. 
"  If  you  go  on  like  this  you  '11  never  need  a 
wife.      That 's  bad  —  bad." 
Jack  laughed  lazily. 

"  That  is  n't  mv  view,  sir,  I  'm  not  such  a 
selfish  brute.  I  'd  like  to  share  things." 
"  O  Lord,  this  is  all  woman's  business,"  push- 
ing away  the  stool  with  his  foot,  and  then 
recalling  it  with  both  feet.  "If  you  take  it 
away  from  'em  you  '11  ruin  the  profession  of 
wives." 

"  Oh,  I  see.  You  take  a  disinterested  view, 
also." 

"  Yes,  we  've  got  to  have  an  excuse  for  them, 
poor  things,  or  how  'd  they  ever  get  married  ?  " 
"  Sure  enough,  Uncle.  I  see  my  duty."  Jack 
threw  himself  on  the  lounge  and  retired  his  face 
behind  a  cloud  of  smoke. 


THE    SOUIRE  251 

"That's  right.  Don't  shirk  your  responsi- 
bilities. Women  are  kittle  cattle,  but  they  're 
worth  their  keep.  That  recalls  me,  what  did 
you  say  your  plans  were.  Jack,  for  I  take  it  you 
have  n't  been  digging  for  nothing  ?  " 
"  They  're  not  very  definite."  Jack  straight- 
ened himself.  "  But  having  got  a  lot  of  law 
into  me,  I  suppose  the  next  thing  is  to  find  an 
excuse  for  getting  it  out,  as  luckily  as  I  can. 
Judge  Bowen  said  if  nothing  better  offered  he  'd 
take  me  in  at  Sparta." 

"  A  country  lawyer  has  pretty  poor  pickings. 
Like  as  not  you  'd  have  to  take  your  fees  in 
apples  or  potatoes." 

"  Uncle,  you  seem  to  have  made  a  tidy  thing 
out  of  it." 

"  Indirectly,  yes.  Law  has  one  advantage. 
It  aflx)rds  you  a  pretty  good  idea  of  your  neigh- 
bor's affairs,  and  if  you  combine  it  judiciously 
with  business  you  can  sometimes  turn  his  mis- 
fortunes that  are  inevitable  into  your  probable 
good.     I  've  made  lucky  investments  in  that 


252  JACK     RACER 

way.  But,  Jack, you  haven't  the  necessary  tem- 
peramental hang  for  that  sort  of  thing." 
"  I  don't  believe  I  have.  The  only  hold  the 
law  has  over  me  is  a  different  sort.  Now  I  can 
conceive  of  an  unholy  zeal  in  provingthat  black 
is  white,  but  the  recompense  of  the  reward 
does  n't  seem  to  stir  me  greatly.  But,"  Jack 
laughed, "  I  suppose  I  'd  acquire  nerve  for  my 
bills." 

"The  worst  of  it  is,"  said  the  squire,  helping 
himself  to  another  cigar,"  the  material  we  have 
to  work  with  is  so  damned  uninteresting." 
"  The   crimes  are   not   engaging  ?  "    queried 
Jack. 

"  And  no  audience.  No,  Jack,  you  'd  waste 
a  lifetime.  Law  is  all  very  well,  but  make  it 
a  stepping-stone.  Combine  it  with  something 
else  —  politics,  for  example." 
"  Politics  !  "  cried  Jack,  with  an  accent  of  dis- 
gust. 

"  Oh,  you  've  got  the  cut,  young  man.    Don't 
fly  in  the  face  of  nature." 


THE    SQUIRE  253 

"  Do  I  look  like  a  fellow  to  loaf  around  the 

doors  of  the  county  offices  ?  " 

"  That 's  a  low  view  of  the  situation.      When 

you  are  member  for  this  district,  or  nominated 

forgovernor,  you  won't  hold  the  means  in  such 

scorn." 

"  Oh,  I  'm  to  fly  high,  am  I  ?  " 

"  I  have  n't  thought  of  you  as  a  fellow  to  fly 

low  !      But  you  've  got  to  begin   somewhere. 

Take  the  first  thing  that   offers.      The  main 

thing  is  to  get  people  in  the  habit  of  voting  for 

you.      They  '11   keep   it  up,  whether  it 's  for 

governor  or  coroner.      I  know  a   dozen  men 

that  are  always  on  the  ticket." 

"  And  you  'd  like  me  to  be  the  thirteenth  .?  " 

Jack  was   resting  his  head  on  his  hands,  his 

elbows  on  his  knees.      He  lifted  his  eyes  to  his 

uncle's  face. 

"  I  know  all  you  'd  say  and  perhaps  I  'd  agree 

with  you.      But  if  you  are  the  thirteenth,  you 

are  also  the  exception.      I  don't  fancy  you  '11 

have  to  go  shinning  around  forwhatyou  want." 


254  JACK    RACER 

"  Go  on,  Uncle.      I  rather  like  talking  about 
myself  when  I  'm  once  at  it." 
"You  sec,  Jack,  things  always  come  easy  for 
you." 

"That's  encouraging,  but  I  've  been  thinking 
differently." 

"  Yes,  they  do,  particularly  things  that  depend 
on  other  people.  That 's  why  I  want  you  to 
go  into  politics.  If  it  was  a  question  of  your 
own  doings,  that  would  be  another  thing." 
"  'Pon  my  word.  Uncle  !  You  temper  what 
you  have  to  say  pretty  well,"  Jack  said,  with 
a  comical  grin. 

"  With  you,  Jack,  it 's  a  question  of  being  rather 
than  doing,  lucky  dog.  It 's  natural  for  you  to 
fool  with  babies  and  palaver  women —  " 
"  Oh,  if  that 's  all,"  said  the  young  man. 
"It  is  n't  all.  I've  noticed,  too, that  you  al- 
ways have  a  lot  of  lieutenants.  There 's 
Limecooly,  Amzi,  and  that  singing  fellow, 
Triplow  —  I've  seen  you  loafing  on  corners 
by  the  hour  —  " 


THE    SQUIRE  255 

"  Oh,  Uncle  !  " 

u  —  ami  never  alone.  Jake  Durstine's  nag 
kicks  himself  out  of  his  harness  waiting  for  you 
to  finish  your  yarns.  Now  all  that  is  material 
which  you  might  as  well  put  to  use." 
"  No  convictions,  norany  of  that  sort  of  lumber 
necessary  ?  " 

"  They  '11  develop  in  time,"  said  the  squire,  care- 
fully knocking  off  the  ashes  from  his  cigar. 
"  But  don't  hurry.  Let  'em  ripen.  They  're 
more  agreeable  when  they  're  mellow." 
"Then  it's  the  business  of  politics  you  ad- 
vise, instead  of  pressing  hay  or  raising 
stock." 

"  Precisely,  and  a  business  for  which  you  have 
some  natural  advantages." 
His  uncle  paused  for  a  reply,  while  Jack  was 
tying  knots  in  a  string  as  if  that  were  after  all 
the  most  important  thing.  At  last  he  spoke 
slowly  and  reluctantly, — 
"  You  see,  Uncle,  you  put  everything  in  a  new 
light,  and  I  've  got  to  accustom  my  eyes.  There 


256  JACK    RACER 

was  sometliing  more  than  law  in  my  read- 
ing law.  A  lot  of  things  were  mixed  up 
with   it." 

"Well?"  said  the  squire,  impatiently. 
"  It  was  a  sort  of  test.  If  I  succeeded  in  that 
I  might  succeed  in  other  things,  that  is,  I 
might  be  fit  to  succeed  —  " 
The  squire  straightened  himself  in  his  chair. 
"Jack,  I  don't  understand  in  the  least  what 
you  're  talking  about  —  succeeding  and  fit  to 
succeed  —  for  God's  sake  don't  drag  sentiment 
into  this  business." 

Jack  colored,  but  his  facile  expression  readily 
presented  his  usual  careless  face. 
"Uncle,  you  discourage  me.     I'm  not  much 
used  to  fooling  with  motives  and  I  confess  they 
interested  me." 

Squire  George  shook  his  head  mournfully. 
"The  long  and  short  of  it  is.  Uncle,  having 
learned  my  trade,  I  'd  like  to  follow  it.      I  've 
a  half  an  idea  that  if  I  can  keep  myself  pegging 
away  for  a  year  or  so,  I  might  build  up  a  prac- 


THE    SQUIRE  257 

tice  and,  who   knows,  turn   out   a  respectable 
member  of  society." 
"  Of  Pekin  ?      You  'd  die  of  dry  rot." 
"  I  had  n't  come  down  to  particulars.    But  why 
not  ?  " 

The  squire  saw  the  pleasing  fabric  he  had  built 
during  the  night  falling  before  his  eyes.  Jack, 
a  one-horse  country  lawyer,  a  little  white  office, 
a  cannon  stove,  boxes  filled  with  sawdust, 
shambling  farmers  wanting  papers  drawn  up, 
a  little  pettifogging  over  at  the  Sparta  court- 
house. The  tears  almost  reached  his  eyes,  for 
his  disappointment  was  from  the  heart  and 
very  great. 

"  Jack,  Hsten.  I  never  had  a  child  of  my  own. 
When  you  were  a  little  fellow,  if  you  had  been 
mine  I  could  not  have  loved  you  better.  I  com- 
forted myself  for  some  other  things  in  a  good 
many  silly  dreams  about  you  in  those  days." 
There  was  a  quavering  note  in  thesquire's  voice 
that  Jack  never  remembered  to  have  heard  be- 
fore. "  But  you  did  n't  show  much  disposition 
17 


258  JACK    RACER 

to  go  my  way,  and  you  '11  admit,  Jack,  I  never 
attempted  to  constrain  you." 
"  And  you  cared,  Uncle  ?  "     Jack  dropped  his 
string  and  sprang  to  his  feet. 
*'  Cared,  boy  ?  "      The  squire  smiled   sadly. 
"  But  a  man  gets  used  to  seeing  his  illusions 
fade.      I  've  reached  the  point  where  I  say  to 
myself, '  I  told  you  so,'  with  a  mournful  laugh. 
Jack,  you  were  one  of  my  illusions." 
Jack  paced  the  room  softly  to  and  fro,  stopping 
now  and  then  to  gaze  vacantly  over  the  Widow 
Mallon's  chimneys  opposite. 
The  squire  continued  : 

"  After  a  while  I  stopped  creeping  to  vour  bed- 
side to  see  if  you  had  been  drinking,  and  went 
to  sleep  myself  like  a  baby,  leaving  the  front 
door  unlocked."  He  gave  a  perfunctory  laugh. 
"  But  last  night  after  you  told  me  of  this  new — " 
even  now  the  squire  could  think  of  no  other  word 
than  caprice  —  "  this  caprice  of  yours,  the  mag- 
got got  into  my  brain  again  and  I  had  no  sleep 
until  morning.      By  Zux,  I  thought  those  old 


THE    SQUIRE  259 

hopes  were  all  dead,  Jack,  and  here  they  are 
alive  and  kicking."  The  squire  looked  wist- 
fully at  his  nephew. 

Jack  came  from  the  window  and  stood  before 
his  uncle. 

"  Why  did  n't  you  let  me  know  all  this  when  I 
wasa  little  fellow —  that  you  cared,  I  mean  ?  " 
There  was  a  suspicious  tugging  at  his  throat. 
"  I  always  thought  Mother's  death  thrust  me 
under  your  roof.  I  used  to  envy  Sam  Lime- 
cooly  because  his  mother  whipped  him,  for  she 
coddled  him  afterward.  I  thought  whipping 
and  coddling  went  together.  I  got  neither. 
Uncle,  if  you  had  spanked  me  I  would  have 
known  you  loved  me." 

They  each  gave  a  precarious  laugh  and  fell  into 
silence.  Jack  still  standing  before  his  uncle  with 
abstracted  gaze  at  his  locked   hands,  and   his 
uncle  with  his  chin  on  his  breast. 
At  last  Jack  spoke  in  a  low  voice. 
"  What  do  you  want  me  to  do,  Uncle  ?  " 
*'  I  don't  want  to  force  your  inclinations.  Jack." 


26o  JACK    RACER 

"  Never  mind  that.      I  'm  willing  to  start  out 
under  your  flag." 
"  D'  ye  mean  it  ?  " 
Jack  nodded. 

The  squire  straightened  himself  in  his  chair, 
his  eye  alert,  his  voice  assured,  and  his  tender 
memories  gone  like  a  flight  of  birds. 
"  Look  here.  Jack.  There  are  few  ins  and 
outs  of  this  business  I  don't  know." 
Jack  laughed  furtively  at  his  uncle's  change 
of  demeanor  and  tone. 

"  Sam  Maginnis  is  going  to  give  up  the  justice- 
ship, to  accept  a  position  as  deputy  under 
Knowles,  if  Knowles  is  elected.  Sam  need  n't 
wait.  He  can  resign  now.  You  shall  be  nomi- 
nated to  fill  his  term  which  ends  in  the  spring. 
Meanwhile  you  've  got  into  traces  and  have 
pipes  laid  for  something  juicier.  Let 's  see,  we 
will  call  a  primary  and  force  the  election  at  the 
same  tim.e  of  the  state  and  county  ticket." 
"  But  is  n't  all  this  rather  high-handed  ?  " 
"  Pooh  !  "   answered  the  squire. 


THE    SQUIRE  261 

"  But  suppose  Knovvles  is  n't  elected,  where  's 
Sam  ?  " 

"  Fortunes  of  war." 

"  But  suppose  Sam.  foresees  the  fortunes  of  war 
and  won't  resign  ?  " 

"  Knowles  will  make  him.  He  '11  refuse  him 
the  appointment  if  he  does  n't.  Knowles 
knows  he  's  as  strong  again  if  he  has  my  in- 
fluence, which  he  '11  have  if  you  run.  Knowles 
knows  which  side  of  his  bread  's  buttered." 
The  squire  rubbed  his  hands  gleefully. 
"Old  Martin  had  hiseyes  on  that  squire's  office 
for  his  shiftless  son-in-law.  But  I  haven 't 
forgotten  how  he  euchered  me  out  of  that 
judgment  in  the  Longacre  case.      Turn  about, 

old  man,  turn  about." 

Jack  was  still  thinking  of  Maginnis. 

"  How  many  kids  has  that  man  ?  " 

"  What  man  f  " 

"Sam." 

"1  never  counted  them.      They  can't  vote." 

"  His  salary  stops,  of  course,  if  he  resigns." 


262  JACK    RACER 

'•'Salary  !  "   exclaimed  the  squire  in  some  dis- 
gust.     "  He  has  his  fees."' 
"  Same  thing,  whatever  he  lives  on." 
The  squire  eyed  his  nephew  with  distrust. 
"  Look  here,  Jack,  don't  make  a  mistake  in  the 
beginning  by  thinking  of  the  other  fellow.      In 
politics  it 's  Number  One." 


CHAPTER      EIGHTEEN 


XVIII 

Pekin  Ladies  Awake  to  an  Interest  in   Politics 

'ACK  had  accepted  his  uncle's  prop- 
osition in  good  faith,  but  he  felt  as 
if  he  had  on  cap  and  bells  at  a  mas- 
querade. Notwithstanding,  he  kept 
a  sober  front  and  endeavored  to  at- 
tune himself  to  his  new  part.  The  offensive 
white  hat  was  laid  aside  as  unbehtting  the  sea- 
son. But  the  purchase  of  a  slouch  hat,  the 
common  head-covering  of  the  male  inhabit- 
ants of  that  part  of  the  country,  instead  of  a 
smart  Derby,  showed  Jack's  dawning  appre- 
ciation of  the  arts  of  the  politician,  and  that  the 
campaign  was  to  be  serious. 
Sam  Maginnis  had  promptly  resigned,  as  the 
squire  predicted,  although  with  many  inward 
misgivings.  But  these  were  allayed  after  a 
private  interview  with  Jack,  which  had  not  been 


266  JACK     RACER 

considered  by  the  squire  as  a  necessary  feature 
of  Jack's  candidacy. 

Notices  had  beenprintedannounciiigthat"John 
Georp-e  Racer  offered  himself  to  the  citizens 
of  the  town  of  Pekin  for  the  nomination  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace  made  vacant  by  the  resig- 
nation of  Samuel  Maginnis,  Esq."  There 
were  a  few  lines  appended  in  which  Mr.  Racer 
stated  that  his  chief  aim  would  be  to  serve  the 
citizens  of  Pekin  to  the  best  of  his  ability  and 
to  deserve  the  confidence  placed  in  him  by  their 
suffrages,  if  elected. 

The  squire  suggested  some  additional  lines,  and 
Will  Triplow  composed  some  telling  sentences 
over  its  preparation  in  Jack's  room,  but  Jack 
insisted  that  the  Pekin  folks  would  see  through 
any  attempt  at  palaver. 

These  notices  were  posted  in  all  public  places, 
and  adorned  the  most  venerable  trees  in  the 
town. 

The  sensation  they  created  surpassed  even  that 
of  the  Cantata.      All  day  long  each  notice  had 


PEKIN    LADIES  267 

a  rapidlydissolvinggroup  of people,eachhurry- 
ing  away  to  carry  the  news.  Xhe  campaign 
for  the  state  and  countv  offices  had  been  lan- 
guid, but  this  gave  them  new  zest. 
The  call  for  the  primary  was  quite  unnecessary, 
but  belonged  to  the  squire's  neatly  conceived  pro- 
gramme. It  was  no  part  of  his  plan  that  Jack 
should  quietly  ride  into  office  through  the  gen- 
eral elections,  but  that  he  should  make  a  gal- 
lant fight  for  it.  Opposition  was  necessary  in 
the  first  place  to  throw  him  into  prominence 
politically,  since  the  justiceship  was  not  an  ex- 
alted position.  It  was  even  more  necessary 
to  put  the  young  man  himself  on  his  mettle, 
for  the  squire  well  understood  the  grounds  of 
Jack's  complaisance,  and  that  his  heart,  wher- 
ever it  might  be,  was  not  set  on  the  squire's 
office. 

Squire  Martin,  he  knew,  could  be  depended  on 
for  the  opposition.  Squire  Martin  was  his  rival 
at  the  bar  —  the  euphemism  employed  at  Pekin, 
where  law  was  less  a  profession  than  a  busi- 


268  JACK    RACER 

ncss,  being  largely  intermingled  with  advances 
on  hay  and  grain  and  the  absorption  of  heavily 
morto;aged  acres. 

lliere  was  much  controversy  in  Pekin  as  to 
which  was  the  richer  man.  The  Methodist 
church  held  to  Squire  Martin,  who  was  a  pro- 
minent member  and  its  financial  mainstay.  But 
the  other  denominations  inclined  to  Squire 
George,  leaves  from  whose  check  book  had 
fluttered  about  in  times  of  need.  The  decision 
was  of  no  real  value,  "  the  richest  man  in 
town  "  being  a  sort  of  brevet-rank  convenient 
to  use  when  speaking  to  strangers,  and  for  that 
reason  highly  esteemed  in  small  towns  like 
Pekin. 

Thus  from  every  point  of  view  it  was  inevi- 
table that  Squire  Martin  should  furnish  the  op- 
position. Accordingly  another  primary  was 
called,  and  the  trees  blossomed  anew  with  candi- 
dates. 

Squire  George  was  a  man  of  too  much  dignity 
and  discrimination  to  use  the  methods  of  an 


PEKIN    LADIES  269 

ordinary  village  politician.  The  subjectcould 
not  be  avoided.  That  would  have  been  foolish, 
since  Jack  was  his  nephew.  Naturally  he  had 
his  interests  at  heart.  But  his  procedure  was 
simple  and  casual. 

He  had  a  good  deal  to  say  about  it,  but  in  an 
offhand  way.  This  was  not  a  party  matter, 
strictly.  Town  offices  have  no  business  to  lie 
in  party  lines.  There  are  no  national  questions 
involved.  It  is  simply  a  question  of  the  best 
man  for  the  place.  His  nephew  Jack,  he  ad- 
mitted, had  n't  distinguished  himself  as  an  up- 
holder of  law  and  order.  But  he  had  turned  over 
a  new  leaf,  as  anybody  could  see.  He  had  just 
finished  a  severe  course  of  study  at  Sparta,  and 
as  for  mental  equipment,  he  had  the  whole 
digest  at  his  finijers'  ends.  "What  we  want 
now  is  young  blood,  the  old  party  hacks  are 
going  down  hill,  plaved  out,  sir.  When 
a  young  fellow  of  the  ability  of  Jack  shows 
an  inclination  to  go  into  politics,  and  to  serve 
his  fellow  townsmen,  by   George,  he   ought 


270  JACK    RACER 

to  be  encouraged,  if  he  is  my  nephew,  /  say 

it." 

But  Squire  George's  most  effective  work  was 

of  another  sort.    Meeting  Jennings  Bierbohm, 

after  a  lew  considerate   inquiries  after  Mrs. 

Bierbohm  and  the  children,  and  while  Jennings 

was  waiting  with  cold  chills  down  his  spine 

for  the  squire  to  present  his  bill  for  defending 

the  weights  of  his  hay-press  scales  against  the 

charges  of  a  Chicago  firm,  the  squire  casually 

remarked  : 

"  By  the  way,  Jennings,  I  have  n't  sent  in  my 

bill,  for  I  heardyou  werealittlepressedjust  now. 

Have  you  heard  the  news  ?  My  nephew  Jack's 

in  training  for  the  justiceship  ;   if  you  can  put 

in  a  word  for  him,  it  won't  be  amiss." 

And  Jennings  Bierbohm,  becoming  warm  and 

enthusiastic  in  his  respite,  and  with  the  further 

chance  of  the  squire's  gratitude  showing  itself  in 

his  bill,  hurried  home  and  immediately  addressed 

his  employees  with  much  more  directness  and 

explicitness  than  the  squire  employed. 


PEKIN    LADIES  271 

In  his  legal  and  business  capacity  Squire  George 
occupied  various  relations  to  different  fellow- 
citizens  and  these  in  one  way  or  another  were 
brought  into  Jack's  service. 
A  more  subtle  move  even  was  the  purchase  of 
a  new  carved  pearl  cardcase  for  his  wife  in 
Chicago, which  inspired  Mrs.  George  togo  out 
calling,  as  in  Pekin  that  peculiarly  feminine 
form  of  paying  visits  was  known.  As  Mrs. 
George  rarely  made  visits,  when  she  did  it  be- 
came a  personal  compliment  and  was  much 
prized.  At  this  moment  she  was  eagerly  wel- 
comed,bringing,  as  it  were,  the  latest  news  from 
headquarters. 

No  one  In  Pekin  was  more  earnestly  and  viva- 
ciously interested  in  Jack's  candidacy  than  the 
female  "sect,"  as  Miss  Dyer  called  her  kind. 
Thiswasnotduealone  tothe  interest  that  Jack's 
movements  always  inspired,  but  to  the  fact  that 
the  women  in  small  towns  of  the  west  have  a 
lively  concern  in  affairs  of  every  sort.  They 
go  to  political  gatherings  with  the  same  una- 


272  JACK     RACER 

nimitv  that  thev  attend  camp-meetings.  Thev 
crusade,  as  well  as  take  part  in  tea-diinkings, 
and  have  been  known  to  show  considerable 
muscle  and  directness  of  aim  in  knocking  in 
whiskey  and  beer  barrels.  Thev  speak  in  prayer- 
meeting  and  exhort  at  revivals.  They  are  nei- 
ther afraid  nor  ashamed  to  go  about  town  at 
night  ;  nor  to  stand  on  the  corners,  if  need  be, 
and  talk  to  the  men.  This  freedom  of  move- 
ment only  indicates  that  in  the  affairs  of  life, 
except  in  such  matters  as  voting,  jury  duty, 
and  holding  office,  they  are  much  nearer  on 
planes  of  equality  with  men  than  women  simi- 
larly situated  in  the  east.  To  assert  that  for 
this  reason  they  are  less  devoted  or  less  worthv 
in  their  purely  feminine  capacity  than  women 
elsewhere,  would  be  a  statement  that  could  be 
made  with  greater  freedom  elsewhere.  In 
Pekin  it  would  be  bitterly  resented  by  every 
man  in  the  place. 

To  Mrs.  George  had  not  been  confided  the 
secrets  of  the  campaign,  but  her  nearness  to  the 


PEKIN    LADIES  273 

principal  actor  seemed  to  make  her  in  a  sense 
a  public  character,  and  her  vague  and  ami- 
able allusions,  for  the  subject  was  uppermost 
in  every  house,  were  received  with  flattering 
interest.  After  these  visits  even  those  ladies 
of  severer  turn  of  mind,  who  had  heard  with 
scorn  of  Jack  Racer  as  an  administrator  of  peace 
and  justice,  were  free  to  confess  that  hecould  n't 
go  far  wrong  with  such  a  polite  and  well-dressed 
woman  for  his  aunt. 


CHAPTER       NINETEEN 


XIX 

Jack  Racer  Wins  the  Nomination 

HE  interest  in  Jack  Racer's  pri- 
mary, as  it  was  called  in  defiance 
of  all  the  principles  of  democracy, 
dwarfed  all  previous  political  gath- 
erings. It  was  announced  in  con- 
sequence that  it  would  be  held  in  the  school- 
house,  instead  of  as  usual  in  Reason  Adsit's 
shoe-shop.  Squire  Martin  had  exceeded  Squire 
George's  expectations  as  leader  of  the  opposi- 
tion. Not  only  had  he  arranged  for  a  primary 
that  should  nominate  his  son-in-law,  not  car- 
ing to  pit  him  directly  against  Squire  George's 
combination,  but  he  had  stimulated  Dobyns 
Beesley,a  crude  young  notary, to  contest  Jack's 
popularity  at  his  own  primary,  a  piece  of  rash- 
ness the  youth  would  never  have  ventured  on 
unsupported. 


278  JACK    RACER 

Dobyns  Beesley's  candidacy  had  in  turn  sug- 
gested to  Abner  Goby,  an  elderly  man,  that  his 
chance  might  lie  between  the  two  youths.  All 
this  was  more  inspiring  than  the  squire  could 
have  hoped.  Primaries  were  usually  attended 
in  Pelcin  by  seven  or  eight  men  who  arranged 
things  amicably  as  agreed.  But  this  evening 
the  available  friends  of  each  man  were  present, 
and  the  school-house  was  crowded.  The  women 
had  scurried  through  their  dishes  and  were 
grouped  about  the  streets,  or  pacing  up  and  down 
bonnetless  in  the  moonlight  and  mild  air,  A 
fringe  of  small  boys  hung  about  the  door,  or 
pressed  theirnoses  and  cheeks  againstthe  school- 
house  windows.  The  town  was  alive  with  the 
excitement.  Even  the  Martin  men  hung  about 
with  curious  air,  backed  up  against  fences  and 
trees,  hands  in  their  pockets,  discussing  the 
probabilities. 

Inside,  Will  Triplow,  Sam  Limecooly,  and 
Amzi  were  promptly  on  hand,  and  Jake  Dur- 
stine,  shaved  and  in  his  Sunday  coat. 


WINS   THE   NOMINATION    279 

"  It  ought  to  be  against  etiquette  for  a  man  to 
come  to  his  own  funeral,"  said  Jack,  "easy  and 
impident,"  as  was  his  wont. 
There  was  a  stir  on  his  entrance.  Men  nudged 
one  another  and  poked  fingers  in  their  neigh- 
bors' sides.  Then  a  moment  of  suspense. 
Whatever  young  Mr.  Racer  may  have  felt  of 
unworthiness  or  embarrassment  at  being  the 
cause  of  this  assemblage  of  citizens  it  did  not 
appear.  He  still  wore  his  conquering  hero  air, 
and  it  sent  a  sickening  thrill  through  Dobyns 
Beesley,  who  now  execrated  himself  at  having 
pitted  his  less  showy  person  against  a  young  man 
to  whom,  as  his  uncle  and  Miss  Burke  truth- 
fully said,  "  things  seemed  to  come  easy." 
Jack  sat  down,  not  wisely,  his  uncle  thought, 
by  Jake  Durstine,  and  thev  fell  to  telling  stories, 
laughing  immoderately,  as  i  f  graver  matters  were 
not  imminent.  Even  Sam  and  Amzi,  who  were 
prepared  to  stand  by  Jack  to  the  last,  felt  some- 
thing of  the  gravity  of  the  occasion,  while  Will 
Triplow  was  already  popping  up    and    down 


28o  JACK    RACER 

among  the  audience,  putting  in,  as  he  said,  a 
word  in  season. 

But  Jack's  accustomed  and  light-hearted  de- 
meanor served  him  quite  as  well.  Only  the 
invincible,  it  appeared,  could  be  so  indifferent. 
"  I  suppose  it 's  the  polite  thing  to  shake  hands 
with  my  opponents,"  said  Jack,  rising.  "  I  've 
never  been  here  before, but  that 's  what  Sullivan 
did  before  he  thrashed  Tug  Wilson  at  St. 
Louis." 

Jack  shook  himself  and  went  with  easy  grace 
across  the  room. 

Dobyns's  unwarranted  aspirations  had  seemed 
to  Jack's  friends  the  sort  of  insolence  that 
needed  rebuke.  It  would  have  been  quite  with- 
in the  understanding  of  the  rank  and  file  if  Jack 
had  refused  to  speak  to  Dobyns.  In  Pekin  the 
sight  of  opposing  lawyers  hobnobbing  after 
court  hours  at  Sparta  had  always  been  a  scandal 
and  a  reflection  on  the  morals  of  Sparta  ;  for  if, 
in  the  revision  of  the  Scriptures  prepared  for  the 
American  public,  a  Democrat  or   Republican 


WINS  THE  NOiMINATION  281 
could  have  been  substituted  for  the  rich  man, 
in  Pekin  it  would  have  thrown  a  flood  of  light 
on  the  passage  of  the  camel  through  the  eye  of 
the  needle,  so  strong  was  party  feeling. 
This  explains  the  momentarv  paralvsisof  every 
one  in  the  room,  as  Jack  advanced  in  friendly 
fashion  and  took  Dobyns's  hand. 
As  for  Dobvns  himself,  when  Jack's  cheerful 
"  Hillo,  Dob  !  "  met  his  ear,  he  would  have  felt 
more  at  ease  if  Jack  had  taken  him  by  the  col- 
lar and  propelled  him  with  the  toe  of  a  polished 
boot  to  the  door. 

But   the  amenities  of  politics  thus  introduced 
were  not  fruitless. 

If  Dobyns  had  consulted  his  feelings  he  would 
have  delivered  himself  over  to  Jack  then  and 
there,  but  he  was  aware  that  the  occasion 
merited  some  dignity.  Instead,  he  straightened 
himself  and  cleared  his  throat. 
"  Mr.  Racer,  we  are  not  enemies,  I  hope." 
"  Bless  your  heart,  no.  I  expect  you  to  vote 
for  me." 


282  JACK    RACER 

Dobyns  smiled  faintly,  still  feeling  that  nothing 
but  a  sense  of  duty  could  induce  him  to  pro- 
long the  situation. 

"  Of  course,  we  '11  go  through  this  preliminary 
fuss  and  feathers  —  balloting,  you  and  I.      But 
—  Dob,  who  persuaded  you  to  throw  your- 
self into  the  breach  like  this?  " 
"  Well,  upwards  of  several  people  spoke  to  me. 
I  've  been  qualifying  myself  with  Squire  Martin 
and  he  thought  it  a  good  time  —  " 
"  You  know  he  means  to  run  his  son-in-law. 
However,  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  him  for 
selecting  to  oppose  me  here  a  gentleman  for 
whom  I  have  as  much  esteem  as  yourself,  and 
whichever  way  the  tide  turns  we  remain  good 
friends  ?  "  Jack  smiled  graciously  and  extended 
his  hand  asain. 

A  trained  politician  could    not   have   accom- 
plished more  thoroughly   Dobyns's  demorali- 
zation.     He  clutched  Jack's  hand. 
"  Jack, help  me  out  of  this,"  he  said  in  a  hoarse 
and  agonized  whisper.     "  I  don't  want  to  run. 


WINS  THE  NOMINATION  283 
If  anybody  puts  me  up,  I  'II  holler.  Tell  me 
what  to  do." 

"  Dob,  that  's  scarcely  my  business.  Consult 
your  friends,  and  then  do  as  you  please.  That 
is  the  best  way  to  take  advice.  It 's  a  com- 
pliment to  me,  you  know,  for  you  to  run." 
Reasoningof  this  sort  was  out  of  Dobyns's  com- 
prehension. Feeling  more  abject  than  ever,  he 
went  hastily  in  search  of  some  friendly  adviser 
on  whom  he  could  cast  himself,  and  the  young 
politician  passed  on. 

"Oh,  is  that  you,  Mr.  Goby?"  cried  Jack,  with 
pleased  surprise.  He  stopped  before  a  group 
of  men  in  their  shirtsleeves,  with  gray,  stubbly 
chins,  to  one  of  whom  he  held  out  his  hand. 
''  I  feel  that  I  ought  to  apologize  to  your  gray 
hairs,"  pleased  with  his  own  sense  of  humor. 
*'  The  atrocious  crime  of  being  a  young  man, 
you  know,"  he  added,  with  vague  reminiscence. 
"That'll  mend, aswe  was  a-sayin', but.  Jack,  you 
ain't  got  the  experience  for  the  squire's  office." 
"  Experience,  my  dear  sir,  is  two-edged,"  said 


284  JACK     RACER 

Jack,  resting  his  foot  on  the  desk  bench   and 
letting  one  arm  hang  idly  over  his  knee,  an  at- 
titude that  impressed  the  boys  pressing  their 
faces  against  the  window-panes,  and  also  the 
Pekin  youth,  for  whom  legs  and  arms  were  still 
appendages  and  often  in  the  way. 
"  Now  here's  Mr.  Goby  who  never  broke  any- 
thing in  his  life  but  colts,  and  here  I  am,  who 
have  been  shaving  the  law  ever    since   I  was 
knee-high.     Why,  I  know  every  legal  clap- 
board of  the  squire's  office,  and  every  knothole, 
too,"  Jack  grinned. 
The  men  broke  into  loud  laughter. 
"Set  a  thief  to  catch  a  thief,  eh.  Jack  ?  " 
"  That 's  about  the  size  of  it,"  answered  Jack 
good-humoredly,  amid  loud  guffaws.      "  You 
know  yourself,  Squills,  you  would  n't  trust  your 
best  razor  to  a  man  who  did  n't  know  how  easy 
it  was  to  ruin  it." 

The  laugh  was  transferred  to  Squills  who  had  n't 
shaved  since  the  sixties,  bound  by  some  polit- 
ical vow. 


WINS  THE  NOMINATION  285 
"  Here  's  Mr.  Goby,"  continued  Jack,  "  the 
best-natured  man  alive.  How  can  you  expect 
him  to  deal  with  cases  of'  provoke '  ?  Now  I —  " 
Jack  felt  his  smooth  chin  with  a  thoughtful  air. 
The  men  roared  again. 

*■'■  There  's    nothin'    of  the    hy-pocrite    about 
Jack,"  one  whispered,  and  another: 
"  With  all  his  vain,  idle  ways,  Jack  never  was 
stuck-up." 

"  Mr.  Racer  !  "  A  young  man  approached  Jack 
with  a  conscious  air  of  importance,anda  husky 
voice. 

"  Mr.  Beesley  desired  me  to  present  you  with 
this." 

Jack  opened  a  folded  paper  and  glanced  within. 
"  My  good  fellow,  I  can't  take  charge  of  this. 
It  's  all  out  of  order.  You  must  give  it  to  the 
chair.  Where  is  Mr.  Beesley  ?  " 
"  Gone  home,  sir,  to  bed.  He  says  nobody 
need  n't  come  after  him,  for  he  '11  be  asleep 
and  would  n't  wish  to  be  disturbed." 
Jack  turned  with  ready  formality. 


286  JACK    RACER 

"Will  you  convey  to  Mr.  Beesley  my  regrets 
thathesees  fit  to  withdraw  ;  and  also  my  thanks 
for  the  cordial  support  he  offers.  You  'd  better 
lay  the  paper  on  the  table,  Bud,"  as  he  took 
Mr.  Beesley's  formal  withdrawal  and  tender 
ofsupportfromMr.  Goby,  demoralized  in  turn 
by  its  contents. 

"  That  floors  me.  Jack,"  he  whispered.     "  I 
meant  to  come  in  a-tween  you." 
"Brace  up,  Goby.    Brace  up,"  said  Jack, ab- 
sently.     "  I  don't  want  to  support  the  honor 
of  this  contest  alone." 

"  I  'd  jes'  as  leave  you  'd  have  it  as  me.  Jack. 
I  don't  know  but  I  'd  leaver." 
The  chair  rapped  for  order,  and  Jack  went  back 
to  his  seat  by  Jake  Durstine. 
During  the  final  confusion  Abner  Goby  scram- 
bled out  of  his  seat  between  the  desks  and  hurried 
over  to  Sam  Limecooly.  Wedging  himself  in 
between  Sam  and  Will,  he  wound  one  arm  af- 
fectionately around  Sam's  neck,  and  lifted  his 
mouth  to  Sam's  ear. 


WINS   THE    NOMINATION    287 

"  Who  's  goin'  to  give  in  Jack's  name,  Sam  ?  " 
"They  've  put  that  on  me.  What'sup,Goby  ?" 
"  Lemme,  Sam.  Jack  's  such  a  friendly  cuss, 
an'  since  Dob  Beesley's  moseyed,  I  ain't  no 
chance.  Ye  see,  I  'd  like  to  do  the  p'lite  thing 
now  by  Jack." 

Thus  the  amenities  of  the  campaign  prospered. 
The  pretence  of  business  fell  flat.  The  read- 
ing of  Dobyns  Beesley's  withdrawal  was  al- 
ready an  old  story. 

The  sensation  arrived  when  Abner  Goby,  who 
had  not  sat  down  again  in  his  eagerness  to  do 
the  "  han'some  thing,"  announced  that  he  would 
like  to  present  the  name  of  a  gentleman  well 
known  in  this  'ere  community  for  the  nomina- 
tion of  Justice  of  the  Peace, — Mr,  Jack  Racer, 
Esquire. 

It  was  a  great  moment.  Everybody  appreci- 
ated the  courtesy  of  the  occasion.  Before 
Abner,  with  a  wave  of  the  hand  and  a  scrape 
of  the  foot,  could  sit  down,  before  Sam  could 
get  up  and  support  Abncr's  nomination,  a  great 


288  JACK    RACER 

shout  went  up,  echoed  by  all  the  boys  outside. 
Jack's  eyes  grew  moist.      He  had  been  con- 
fident enough,  but  he  was  not  prepared  for  this. 
He  turned  to  Jake  Durstine,  who  was  beating 
him  with  affectionate  vigor  on  the  back. 
"  I  could  have  cheeked  it  through,  Jake,  but 
this  —  "  Jack  could  say  no  more. 
The  squire  hurried  to  him,  striving  to  appear 
merely  dignified  and  benevolent. 
"  Bravo,  Jack.    Done  without  striking  a  blow. 
You  can  give  me  points,  boy.    Jake,  don't  you 
believe  this  youngster  can  walk  alone?  "  turn- 
ing to  Jake  with  the   familiarity  he  had   dis- 
couraged in  Jack. 

The  crowd  trooped  out  in  high  humor,  men 
wringing  Jack's  hand  as  they  passed. 
Jack  felt  very  humble,  for  a  rising  young  poli- 
tician. He  wanted  to  get  away  from  it  all. 
Sam  and  Will  Triplow  waited  until  he  could 
disengage  himself.  The  janitor  was  turning 
down  the  lights  when  the  threeyoung  men  went 
out  into  the  street. 


WINS   THE    NOA4INATION    289 
A  group  of  girls  under  a  tree  challenged  them 
as  they  passed, 
"  Congratulations,  Jack  !  " 
"  You  don't  know  what  a  comfort  it  is  to  know 
I  'vea  friend  at  court,"  chimed  in  Anna  Ross. 
*'  Jack,  I  hope  you  '11  bind  Sam  Limecooly  over 
to  keep  the  peace.      Sam,  you  tease  ! "      And 
she  gave  him  a  push  off  the  plank  sidewalk. 
"  Jack,  I  'm  so  glad  you  're  goin'  to  be  squire. 
I  'm  dying  to  sass  Samantha  Dyer,  an'  she  '11 
have  me  up  for  provoke.      But  you  '11  let  me 
off  easy,  won't  you  ?  " 
"I  '11  go  your  bail  myself,  Alice." 
Then  Aunt  Kiz  appeared,  bareheaded,  and  with 
her  arm  about  her  niece. 

"Stopaminit,  Aunt  Kiz,  and  we '11  introduce 
you  to  the  new  squire,"  Anna  cried. 
"  Can't ;   I  'm  afraid  of  the  neuraligy." 
Jack  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  fair  young  face  in 
the  moonlight  as  Aunt  Kiz  hurried  by,  throw- 
ing a  mocking  voice  over  her  shoulder : 
"  Girls,  there  '11  be  no  more  skylarkin'  evcn- 
19 


290  JACK    RACER 

ill's,  no  more  night-prowlin's.  New  brooms 
sweep  clean.  I  'm  goin'  tobegin  layin'by  fines 
in  a  stockin'  leg." 

Jack  felt  a  sudden  imperative  need  for  sympathy, 
for  the  sound  of  a  soft  voice,  a  gentle  touch, 
instead  of  all  this  gay,  mocking  friendliness. 
He  turned  helplessly  to  Anna. 
"  Anna,  if  you  are  going  home  I  '11  walk  with 
you.     Will,  you  and  Sam  go  to  my  room,  and 
1  '11  meet  you  there  directly." 
It  had  been  a  long  time  since  Anna  had  strolled 
in  the  moonlight  with  Jack.      In  her  elation, 
as  she  took  his  arm  she  felt  a  new  sense  of 
embarrassment.   Jack  was  silent,  and  she  could 
think  of  nothing  to  say.      Suddenly,  with  that 
utter  lackofdiscernmentwhich  often  trips  wom- 
en acute  by  nature,  she  thought  of  a  topic. 
"  Jack  !  " 

"  Yes,"  taking  his  eyes  down  from  the  moon. 
"  When  is  Rene  coming  back  ?  " 
Yes,  he  was  on  the  earth  once  more.      He  did 
not  answer  for  a  moment. 


WINS   THE    NOMINATION    291 

"  Back  ?  Where  has  she  gone  ?  "  with  sudden 
recollection. 

"  Did  n't  you  know  it  ?  "  Anna  leaned  forward 
doubtfully  to  look  him  in  the  face. 
"  You  know  I  've  been  busy  with  these  af- 
fairs," he  mumbled. 

"  She  's  been  gone  a  week.  Mrs.  Maule  told 
me  to-night." 

"  Where  has  she  gone  ?  "  with  faint  interest. 
"Home,  —  Peru.  She  went  very  suddenly. 
I  think  it 's  awful  queer  she  did  n't  let  a  body 
know.      Don't  you  ?  " 

"  Isuppose.  Butwomenhavetheir  own  ways." 
"  Well,  it  is  n't  her  way.  You  know  that. 
She  usually  holds  a  levee  at  the  cars  and  you  're 
master  of  ceremonies,  Jack  Racer." 
Jack  laughed  aloud,  not  at  Anna's  wit,  but  at 
his  own  futile  cravings.  Truly,  Anna  had  not 
the  sovereign  gift. 

Jack  bade  her  good  night  and  wandered  down 
the  Sparta  road  to  soothe  his  restless  spirit.  The 
night  was  balmy  and  the  moon  rode  high  among 


292  JACK     RACER 

the  clouds.  The  spicy  odors  from  the  burning 
brush,  from  the  twigs  of  currant,  the  branches 
of  peach  and  plum,  the  broken  bits  of  sweet- 
briar  and  roseof  Sharon  gathered  from  the  paths 
by  careful  housewives,  stirred  his  senses.  He 
felt  a  sense  of  exaltation  that  was  not  born  out 
of  the  lighted  schoolroom  and  the  shouts  of 
the  men.  Memories  sprang  into  life,  a  crowd 
of  recollections  pressed  upon  him,  of  his  child- 
hood, his  mother.  He  felt  once  more  a  boy's 
hope,  courage,  faith.  He  walked  rapidly  on 
with  a  boy's  blithe  step,  until  he  came  to  the 
cross  roads.  Here,  Fancy,  the  buggy,  Irene, 
passed  before  him  like  an  eclipse.  He  uttered 
an  oath,  and  turned  on  his  heel,  his  face  no 
longer  uplifted  to  the  moon. 
How  long  he  walked  and  where,  he  did  not 
know. 

But  while  he  walked  Will  Triplow  and  Sam 
waited    patiently  in  his  room,  accustomed   to 
Jack's  vagrant  ways. 
"  He  's  probably  supporting  Ross's  gatepost," 


WINS  THE  NOMINATION  293 
said  Sam,  making  himself  comfortable  on  the 
lounge. 

Will  Triplow  had  already  planned  a  Campaign 
Glee  Club,  and  now  took  out  a  pencil  and  a 
sheet  of  Jack's  legal  cap  over  which  he  busied 
himself,  speaking  only  at  intervals. 
"  How  is  this,  Sam  ? 

"  Oh,  Pekin  's  the  gem  of  the  prairie, 
The  home  of  the  brave  and  the  free.  " 

"  Good,  Will.     Go  it,"  answered  Sam,  sleep- 
ily, but  with  appreciation. 
"Sam,  what  rhymes  with  prairie  ?  " 
"  Mary,  Sary,  dairy,  fairy." 
"  Fair>' ;  let  me  see, —  fairy,  fairy.      No,  you 
can't  make  it  come  in."     Will  scribbled  again 
in  silence. 
"  How  is  this,  Sam  ?  — 

*'  Jack  Racer  Its  standard  will  carry 
In  triumph  from  mountain  to  sea.  " 

"  Couldn't  bebeat,"saidSam, with  hiseyesshut. 
Will  returned  tohis  labors  with  enthusiasm,  and 


294  JACK    RACER 

Sam  slept  the  sleep  of  neither  politician  nor 
poet. 

At  length  Jack  stopped,  foot-sore  and  weary, 
and  sat  down  on  a  doorstep  with  his  head  on 
his  hands. 

"  Oh,IwishI  hadamother,"hegroaned.  "Here 
I  am  creeping  like  a  beggar  through  the  town, 
hungering  and  thirsting  like  any  other  unfor- 
tunate devil." 

He  lifted  his  head.  Before  him  were  a  row  of 
familiar  locust  trees,  one  a  huge,  lofty-bodied 
tree  with  a  well-remembered  shelf-shaped  knot. 
The  moon  was  low  and  half  hidden.  He  sprang 
up  and  looked  about  him.  He  was  in  front  at 
the  Campbells'  house.  He  threw  up  his  head 
and  laughed  gleefully. 

"  By  Jupiter,  I  '11  have  it,  I  '11  have  it."  The 
weariness  of  his  spirit  left  him.  The  shouts 
of  the  men  echoed  joyfully  once  more.  He 
felt  the  strong  flow  of  manhood  in  his  veins  — 
of  achievement,  of  happiness.  "  Why  not," 
he  said,  with  upward  glance  at  the  silent  win- 


WINS  THE  NOMINATION  295 
dows,  "  why  not  for  me  ?  What  should  there 
be  on  earth  that  I  want,  and  I  not  have  it  ?  " 
He  clung,  like  a  drunken  man,  to  the  tree,  his 
head  pillowed  serenely  on  the  rough-barked 
knot,  drunk  indeed  with  his  new  hopes. 
Footsteps  sounded  up  the  street.  He  moved 
further  into  the  shadow,  A  man  passed,  look- 
ing suspiciously  about  him. 
"  This  won't  do,"  he  said,  as  the  man  turned 
the  corner.  "  My  constituents  expect  me  to 
be  in  bed  betimes."  And  he  sighed,  realizing 
that  the  fine  edge  of  his  freedom  was  already 
gone. 


CHAPTER      TWENTY 


XX 

But  the  Barbecue  Makes  Him  Happier  Still 

NOWLES,  the  candidate  for 
sheriff,  as  Squire  George  predic- 
ted was  glad  to  avail  himself  of 
the  George  influence.  Having 
performed  his  part  of  the  agree- 
ment in  impressing  Mr.  Maginnis  with  the  pru- 
dence that  lav  in  prompt  resignation,  Knowles 
in  turn  claimed  the  squire's  aid  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  county,  where  his  own  merits  were 
not  so  well  understood.  From  here  it  was  de- 
cided there  would  be  more  extended  raids 
in  behalf  of  the  state  ticket,  and  in  view  of  suc- 
ceeding campaigns. 

Work  of  this  sort  Squire  George  felt  to  be  just 
the  preliminary  training  Jack  needed.  He  was 
also  glad  to  put  him  in  the  hands  of  a  practical 


300  JACK    RACER 

politician  like  Knowles,  who  was  one  of  the 
men  the  squire  alluded  to  as  being  always  on 
the  ticket,  and  no  dashed  nonsense  about  him. 
Jack  himself,  in  his  new-born  zeal,  was  not 
averse.  He  was  prepared  to  go  into  the  cam- 
paign with  animation.  Notwithstanding  his  ef- 
forts to  take  the  situation  seriously,  its  novelty 
amused  him.  For  one  thing,  he  was  not  only 
as  usual  the  centre  of  attention,  but  he  found 
himself  approved.  He  seemed  to  have  a  new 
group  of  virtues  and,  at  least  until  his  opponents 
got  under  way,  his  detrim.ental  features  ap- 
peared tobe  effaced  orforgotten.  Campaigning, 
moreover,  was  something  of  a  lark.  Different, 
of  course,  from  his  usual  round  of  neighboring 
races,  yet  in  many  features  the  same. 
There  were  ten  days  until  the  election. 
These  were  passed  in  the  company  of  men  who 
spent  money  freely,  stopped  at  the  best  hotels, 
and  dined  with  the  local  magnates.  When  they 
joined  the  men  on  the  state  ticket,  there  were 
receptions  after  the  evening  speeches,  and  Jack 


THE    BARBECUE  301 

found  himself,  as  always,  among  the  prettiest 
girls  and  most  vivacious  women. 
"  If  it  was  left  to  the  women,"  said  the  govern- 
or good-naturedly,  "  Racer  would   sweep   the 
state." 

"  Yes,"  said  Knowles, "  he  worked  his  passage 
cross  country  carrying  water  and  wood  for  the 
wimmen.  Blamed  ef  I  did  n't  see  him  once 
at  a  woodpile." 

But  Jack  had  also  his  share  of  the  burden  of  the 
day.  His  maiden  speeches  were  neither  models 
of  profundity  nor  of  eloquence.  But  his  ready 
tongue,  infinite  tact,  and  sense  of  humor  served 
him  quite  as  well.  The  listeners  often  yawned 
under  the  governor's  ponderous  arguments, 
and  were  too  accustomed  to  Knowles's  pictur- 
esque vituperation  and  broad  stories  to  appre- 
ciate their  artistic  character.  But  Jack's  brisk 
sallies,  piquant  comment,  light  touch,  and  un- 
failing courtesy  of  speech  combined  into  a 
species  of  oratory  new  to  the  prairie,  and  sof- 
tened the  asperities  of  the  campaign. 


302  JACK    RACER 

But  some  credit  must  be  placed  to  his  slim 
figure  and  well-fitting  clothes,  to  the  disposal 
of  his  legs  and  the  use  of  his  arms,  all  of  which 
appeared  so  knowing  that  from  them  might 
justly  be  argued  the  possession  of  certain  in- 
alienable truths. 

To  Jack  himself,  although  freely  spoken  of  and 
described  in  the  local  papers  as  a  rising  young 
politician,  all  this  was  merely  "  trying  it  on  the 
dog."  As  has  been  intimated,  he  was  not  a 
young  gentleman  to  go  out  of  his  way  for  an 
illustration. 

Squire  George's  practised  hand  had  arranged 
that  the  final  rally  of  the  campaign  was  to  take 
place  at  Pekin.  This  was  to  consist  of  a  bar- 
becue, which  would  require  the  united  forces  of 
the  state  and  county  tickets.  Pekin,  as  the 
smallest  town  in  the  county,  had  no  right  to 
this  honor  in  the  teeth  of  Sparta,  Lima,  and 
Rome  city.  But  after  much  growling  and  sar- 
castic comment,  public  and  private,  as  the  roads 
were  fine  and   Indian  summer  had  begun  to 


THE    BARBECUE  303 

hover  in  all   its  loveliness  over  the  prairie,  the 
county  acquiesced,  and  local  pride  yielded  to 
personal  pleasure.     To  the  occasion  the  squire 
sacrificed  one  of  his  finest  cattle.     According 
to  traditional  rites,  the  great  ox  had  been  roast- 
ing since  early  morning  on  a  burning  bed  of 
crab-apple  boughs,  where  it  was  attended  by  a 
devoted  band  of  men  and  boys. 
The  barbecue  was  to  take  place  in  a  grove  of 
buckeyes  at  the  edge  of  town.     The  speakers' 
stand  was   made  of  rough  planks,  raised  and 
fenced  in.      But  the  Stars  and  Stripes  hid  their 
ugliness  and   made  a  flamboyant  background 
draped  from  the  low  branches  of  the  overhang- 
incT  trees.    In  front  and  on  every  side  were  low 
plank  seats  precariously  raised  on  blocks  from 
Jones's    mill.      In   the  vernacular,  these  seats 
were  inclined  "to  teeter,"  but  no  disaster  could 
be  dangerous  since  they  were  scarcely  a  foot 
from  the  soft,  dry  prairie  sward.      On  one  side 
wasa  space  reserved  for  the  Sparta  band,  which 
of  itself  would  have  dignified  any  occasion. 


304  JACK    RACER 

On  the  other  side  were  the  seats  for  Will  Trip- 
low's  Glee  Club,  young  men  and  maids  wear- 
ing blue  badges. 

Squire  George,  although  his  skill  had  managed 
all  the  details  of  these  scenes  in  which  his 
nephew  played  so  prominent  a  part,  kept  him- 
self as  discreetly  as  possible  in  the  background. 
The  dearest  wish  of  his  heart  was  that  honors 
should  heap  high  on  Jack.  Jack,  he  knew, 
needed  only  opportunity.  This  he  took  care 
he  should  have. 

To-day  the  hospitality  of  his  house  claimed  the 
prominent  speakers,  chief  of  whom  was  the 
governor.  Carriages,  carts,  wagons,  filled  with 
people,  came  from  the  Sparta  and  Lima  roads 
past  the  house.  The  street  was  a  continual 
procession  of  foot-passengers  on  their  way  to 
the  barbecue.  Groups  of  Pekin  idlers  hung 
about  the  gate,  and  observed  the  distinguished 
guests  through  the  doors  and  windows,  and 
among  them  Jack,"  chipper  with  the  governor 
as  with  me,"  said  Jake   Durstine,  with  pride 


THE    BARBECUE  305 

equally  distributed  between  Jack  and  himself. 
The  squire  reserved  his  carriage  for  Mrs. 
George's  use,  and  sent  to  Sparta  for  the 
barouche.  This  was  an  imposing  affair  with 
a  great  deal  of  nickel  plating.  It  was  never 
out  except  on  special  occasions,  such  as  fu- 
neralsand  weddings.  In  fact,ithad  been  bought 
with  a  view  to  those  bridal  couples  who  in  such 
busy  seasons  as  having  and  harvest  could  only 
snatch  moments,  as  it  were,  for  marrying, 
)  and    rode  round  town,  in    the    barouche,   a 

wedding  tour  much  in  vogue.  With  the  top 
thrown  back  and  a  driver  on  the  box,  in  a 
country  where  every  man  and  every  woman 
drove,  it  was  altogether  unique. 
As  it  drove  up  now  before  the  George  gate, 
the  crowd  pressed  closer.  Jack  came  down  the 
walk  with  the  governor  and  the  two  members 
of  the  state  ticket,  and  handed  them  in. 
"Jack,  I  'mgoin'  to  vote  for  you,"  cried  a  small 
boy.  As  Jack  sprang  into  the  empty  seat  a 
shout  went  up,  "Hurrah  for  Racer!"  and  Beezy 


3o6  JACK    RACER 

Lemmons,  the  driver,  cracking  his  whip,  the 
barouche  moved  off  in  fine  style. 
As  theydrove  along,  the  girls  waved  their  hand- 
kerchiefs to  the  young  man  on  the  front  seat, 
and  here  and  there  a  voice  cried  out,"  Hurrah 
for  Racer !  " 

"  Youseem  tobeprettystronghere,Mr.Racer," 
said  the  governor. 

"  They  've  lately  taken  to  it,  sir.  They  '11  have 
to  do  pretty  well  to  make  up  for  lost  time." 
The  advent  of  the  barouche  created  the  sen- 
sation the  squire  had  planned.  Jack  jumped 
out,  and  led  the  gentlemen  to  the  speakers' stand, 
where  the  committee  awaited  them,  resplen- 
dent in  large  rosettes  of  ribbon.  The  Sparta 
band  struck  up  "  Hail  to  the  Chief,"  a  compli- 
ment intended  for  the  governor,  for  Sparta  could 
not  be  expected  to  champion  Jack  Racer  as 
did  Pekin. 

There  was  a  rush  for  the  ice-cream  and  peanut 
stands.  The  squire's  ox,  on  which  the  crowd 
had  been  feasting,  was  forsaken.     The  car- 


THE    BARBECUE  307 

riages  and  wagons  pressed  closer.  Men, 
women,  and  children  strove  for  the  front  seats. 
Political  wisdom  and  prairie  oratory  appeared 
to  be  the  two  things  most  to  be  desired.  The 
condescending  periods  of  the  candidate  for 
auditor  were  listened  to  with  flattering  atten- 
tion. At  length  the  novelty  wore  off.  The 
restless  children  climbed  over  knees  and  stum- 
bled over  feet,  to  get  back  to  candy  and  lemon- 
ade. The  young  boys  and  girls  slipped  away 
to  sit  together  under  remote  trees. 
Then  the  auditor  wiped  his  brow  and  sat  down, 
and  the  band  played  again. 
The  governor  stood  up, amid  lusty  cheers.  Men 
left  yellow  spaces  of  plank  to  press  nearer  the 
speakers'  stand,  where  they  listened  attentively 
to  his  heavy-weighted  oratory.  But  the  out- 
side crowd  grew  apace.  The  women  fell  to 
gossiping.  The  babies  slid  down  from  their 
mothers'laps  and  supported  their  toddling  ven- 
tures by  holding  on  to  the  empty  seats,  or  crept 
underneath  on  exploring  tours  among  strange 


3o8  JACK    RACER 

ankles.  Now  and  then  some  startled  foot  dis- 
covered them,  and  dragged  forth  by  strange 
hands,  surrounded  by  strange  faces,  they  set  up 
loud  shrieks,  in  which  various  mothers  heard 
familiar  notes  and  rushed  to  the  rescue. 
Then  the  governor  wiped  his  brow  and  sat 
down,  amid  loud  applause,  and  the  band  played 
again.  When  the  last  note  had  shrunk  into 
silence,  the  chairman  rose  and  presented  to 
his  fellow-townsmen  "a  gentleman  whom  you 
know,  Mr.  Racer."  There  was  a  wild  shout. 
The  children  scampered  back  pellmell  over 
the  seats.  The  girls  and  boys  under  the  trees 
ceased  their  cooing,  and  ran  with  the  children. 
The  women  snapped  the  thread  of  talk.  The 
empty  patches  of  yellow  plank  disappeared 
under  the  kaleidoscopic  colors  of  the  prairie 
finery.  For  a  few  moments  the  whole  mass 
was  in  movement.  There  was  a  general  and 
flattering  interval  of  readjustment  —  what  the 
children  call  "  getting  a  good  ready." 
Meanwhile  Jack,  on  his  feet,  waited. 


THE    BARBECUE  309 

The  governor  leaned  back  and  whispered  to 
the  auditor: 

"  It  looks  like  the  machinery  of  the  state  had 
only  been  put  in  motion  to  make  this  young 
man  a  squire." 

"•  It  is  n't  the  first  case  I  've  seen,  Governor, 
of  the  tail  wagging  the  dog,"  laughed  Mullinex. 
And  Jack!  Never  had  the  situation  so  closely 
touched  him.      Beneath  all  this  restless  curi- 
V  osity,he  felt  the  friendly  interest,  the  throb  of 

)  local  pride.      His  old   self-sufficiency  did  not 

seem  adequate  support.  He  welcomed  this  re- 
sponse. They  were  his  friends  after  all. 
He  looked  down  upon  the  upturned  faces.  Billy 
Campbell  stood  directly  beneath  him,  his  hands 
in  his  pockets  and  head  almost  resting  on  his 
back.  At  one  side  was  Squire  George,  leaning 
forward  in  his  carriage;  on  the  other,  Will 
Triplow,  proud  and  important,  at  the  head  of 
his  singing  legion.  A  few  seats  away  sat  Jake 
Durstine,  his  face  aglow  and  both  hands  be- 
hind his  ears.     And  back,  skirting  the  crowd, 


310  JACK    RACER 

Aunt  Kiz  with  Lucy  under  her  fierce  and  pro- 
tecting wing.  He  recognized  them  one  by 
one,  and  his  eyes  grew  moist. 
At  last  the  great  throng  settled  ;  the  rustling 
ceased.  It  could  scarcely  be  expected  that  more 
fastidiouscommunities  would  have  been  equally 
interested  in  young  Mr.  Racer's  speech.  Its  se- 
ductive humor  and  courteous  tone  struck  a  new 
note  at  Pekin.  But  Jack  was  stirred  with  a 
new  impulse.  His  heart  spoke,  touched  by  a 
strange  warmth.  And  Pekin,  that  Pekin  he 
had  so  consistently  snubbed  during  his  checkered 
career,  listened  with  wondering  surprise  and 
hearts  touched  in  return. 

When  Jack  sat  down,  the  grove  rang  and  rang 
again.  The  hard-faced  and  unshaven  menshook 
hands  with  one  another.  Women  laughed  and 
cried,  and  Will  Triplow's  "Glee  Club"  broke 
into  the  triumphant  strain  he  had  polished  and 
rehearsed  with  such  care. 
More  clearly  than  ever  the  governor  and  his 
companions  realized  that  they  were  but  train- 


THE    BARBECUE  311 

bearers,  as  it  were,  to  this  young  man ;  but 
they  shook  him  cordially  by  the  hand.  The 
squire  pressed  forward,  but  had  no  words. 
Jack  knew  his  uncle's  vigils  were  more  than 
repaid. 

As  he  came  down  the  steps  men  gathered  about 
him,  and  Jake  Durstine,  on  tiptoe,  shouted 
over  Sam's  shoulder : 

"  Jack,  you've  growed  two  inches  since  I  saw 
you  last." 

Jack  made  his  way  through  the  crowd,  which 
gave  way  before  him  with  a  deference  due  his 
new  distinction,  and  a  train  of  small  boys  filled 
up  the  gap.  The  Pekin  girls  all  twisted  their 
heads  to  speak  to  him  as  they  passed,  and  the 
Sparta  girls  looked  on  to  envy  and  admire. 
But  Jack  did  not  stop. 

Because  he  had  set  himself  to  his  law  books ; 
and  from  the  standpoint  of  that  early  deter- 
mination which  he  had  expressed  with  some 
stammering  to  his  uncle  when  his  present  po- 
litical enterprise  was  proposed,  he  felt  that  he 


312  JACK    RACER 

had  now  earned  the  right  to  give  way  to  his 
own  inclinations. 

Yet  it  was  with  some  modest  misgivings  and 
a  still  humble  sense  of  unworthiness  that  he 
pressed  forward  to  the  seats  where  Aunt  Kiz 
sat  with  Lucy  at  her  side.  His  heart  yet 
glowed  with  its  late  emotion  and  newly-kin- 
dled friendliness  for  Pekin,  but  he  could 
not  rest  until  it  assumed  more  personal 
form. 

He  paused  for  a  moment  in  the  crowd  which 
quickly  gathered  about  him,  to  watch  the  two. 
Aunt  Kiz  was  listening,  while  Lucy  talked 
rapidly  with  flushed  cheeks  and  sparkling  eyes. 
"  How  happy  she  looks,"  Jack  thought.  "  If 
I  could  keep  her  so,  I'd  turn  on  my  heel  and 
go  to  Kamtschatka.  But  why  not  happy  for 
me  ? "  The  question  he  had  asked  himself  so 
often  of  late  came  back.  He  threw  up  his 
head  and  plunged  through  the  crowd  again, 
until  he  stood  with  folded  hands  like  a  school- 
boy before  them. 


THE    BARBECUE  313 

Lucy  ceased  her  chatter  and  looked  up  with  a 
proud  smile. 

"  I  believe  it  is  for  me,"  Jack  thought,  but  did 
not  speak. 

"  Makin'  believe  you  love  us  an'  pretty  near 
persuadin'  us,"  said  Aunt  Kiz. 
"  I  've  been  at  your  feet  ever  since  I  can  re- 
member." 

"  Oh,  I  haven't  any  vote,"  with  a  toss  of  her 
head. 

"  But  don't  prejudice  Billy,  I  'm  a  young  man 
with  aforethought." 

"  Well,  now  you  've  got  Pekin  at  last  under 
them  shiny  boots,  be  good  to  it." 
"If  you  could  only  see  the  goodness  stored  up 
in  me,  spoiling  for  an  occasion." 
"  Are  we  an  occasion,  Lucy,  that  we  're 
gettin'  so  much  of  the  young  man's  no- 
tice?" 

Lucy  laid  her  hand  on  her  aunt's  arm  involun- 
tarily. This  accustomed  badinage  did  not 
seem  fitted  to  Jack's  new  mood. 


314  JACK    RACER 

He  still  stood  before  them  with  unwonted  hu- 
mility and  gentle  deference. 
"I'm  sure  I'd  like  to  bask  in  his  presence 
longer,"  continued  the  willful  old  woman, "but 
Sam  Campbell  wants  his  supper.  Come,  Lucy." 
Jack  turned  to  Lucy. 

"  Have  n't  you    a  word   for  me,  Lucy  ?  "  he 
asked,  in  gentle  reproach. 
"  Words  !  "  said  Aunt  Kiz.    "  She  has  talked 
me  stun  deaf." 

Lucy  put  out  her  hand.  A  restless  child 
jumped  from  its  seat  and  Jack  sat  down  by 
her  side. 

"  You  are  the  only  one  who  has  n't  given  me 
a  word,"  he  said  again  in  a  low  voice. 
"  Oh,  Jack,  you  have  made  us  so  happy.    Aunt 
Kiz,  for  all  her  saucy  talk,  cried  when  you 
were  talking." 
"  But  you  — you  ?  " 

"Ah,  I  was  only  glad  I  knew  that  that  was 
really  you,"  she  answered  softly. 
"  You  had  that  much  faith  in  me  ?  " 


THE    BARBECUE  315 

She  nodded. 

"That  makes  me  very  happy,"  he  said,  his 
shining  eyes  bent  upon  the  ground. 
But  among  the  rear  seats  was  commotion. 
"  Mrs.  Maule  !  Where  is  Mrs.  Maule  ?  Here 
is  a  telegraph  fellow  huntin'you,  Mrs.  Maule." 
Mrs.  Maule  was  seated  with  Mrs.  Stivers,  who 
had  found  the  societv  of  Pelcin  congenial,  and 
whose  husband  had  been  perfectly  willing  to 
find  a  substitute  for  her  duties  toward  the  Can- 
tata. 

Mrs.  Maule,  who  had  never  received  a  tele- 
gram in  her  life  before,  was  much  flustered. 
She  now  held  it  at  arms'  length  like  an  ex- 
plosive, and  surveyed  it  with  her  head  thrown 
back,  while  sympathizing  friends  drew  near. 
"  You  'd  better  open  it  and  break  it  to  her," 
suggested  one. 

But  Mrs.  Maule  held  on  to  the  straw-colored 
envelope.    Trembling  and  nervous  as  she  was, 
she  determined  to  make  the  most  of  it. 
Feeling  in  her  dress  for  a  pin,  and  finally  dis- 


3i6  JACK    RACER 

lodging  one  from  the  rear  of  her  collar,  she 
inserted  it  in  the  envelope. 
"  That  is  n't  the  way  they  do  it  nowadays,"  ex- 
plained an  eager  and  more  experienced  friend. 
"They  just  rip  away  at  the  ends." 
But  Mrs.  Maule  felt  the  proper  way  would  be 
to  get  into  the  envelope  the  way  the  telegraph 
company  got  into  it,  and  with  her  pin  carefully 
ploughed  the   path  of  the  mucilage  while  the 
surrounding  company  watched  her  breathlessly. 
Slowly   she   unfolded    the  yellow   slip.      The 
speaker  who  was  now  giving  potent  reasons 
why  his  term   of  office   should   be  prolonged 
was  not  attracting  more  attention. 
"Why,  she's  gone,"  exclaimed  a  more  ready 
scholar  in  the  group,  peering  over  her  shoulder 
while  Mrs.  Maule  was  cautiously  threading  her 
way  among  the  words. 
"Who's  gone?" 

"  Rene  Burke.     She  's  been  gone  these  two 
week." 
Mrs.  Maule  turned,  with  a  sense  of  injury. 


THE    BARBECUE  317 

She  herself  had  not  yet  made  out  the  contents 
of  her  telegram,  and  there  seemed  to  be  some- 
thing almost  indecent  in  forestalling  her,  and 
her  name  written  on  the  back  of  it.  How- 
ever, it  assisted  her  somewhat,  and  she  was 
shortly  after  able  to  read  it  aloud  in  careful, 
distinct  tones. 

'"Don't  frighten  Irene  Burke,'  Massy  me! 
who  's  a-scarin'  her  ?  She  never  was  scared 
of  me."  Mrs.  Maule  stopped  reading  to  make 
solemn  asseveration.  "  She  carried  on  as  she  'd 
a  mind  to  !  " 

"  Go  on,  Mrs.  Maule,"  exclaimed  an  impa- 
tient listener.  "  There  's  more." 
"  '  Don't  frighten  Irene  Burke  !  Her  mother 
sick.  Come  home.'  Sich  shiftless  way  of  writ- 
in'  !  Who  's  come  home  ?  I  'm  goin'  right 
down  to  that  derspatch  office  an'  sass  that  boy 
for  not  puttin'  the  words  in,  an'  he  paid  to 
do  it, too.  Who's  come  home?" 
"Sho',  now,  Mrs.  Maule.  That  's  always  the 
way  they  do  it.      You've  got  to  put  in  the  lit- 


3i8  JACK    RACER 

tie  words  yourself.    They  can't  be  foolin'  with 

the  wires  for  the  'if's'  an' '  an's,'    It 's  trouble 

enough  gittin'  the  big  words  along." 

"  But  Rene  has  gone  home,  has  n't  she,  Mrs. 

Maule?" 

"  Two  weeks  ago,  and  suddent  enough." 

"  That  's  mighty  funny." 

"  Funny  !  My  room  empty  a  whole  week  till 

little  Mis'  Stivers  come  ?      Funny,  that  ain't 

my  word  for  it !  " 

"  But  she  is  n't  home.      Her  mother  is  sick 

an'  they  want  her  to  come  home.      '  Don't 

frighten'   means  break   it  to  her  easy." 

"  How  doyou  make  all  that  out  ?  "   Mrs.  Maule 

puzzled  again  over  her  telegram,  and  before  it 

was  clear  to  her  mind  the  word  had  gone  abroad. 

"  What  are  yegoin'to  do  about  it, Mrs.  Maule? 

You  've  got  to  despatch  'em  back,"  said  the 

friend  who  had  undertaken  to  pilot  Mrs.  Maule 

through  these  troubled  waters. 

"  Shucks  !      Rene  's  got  home  by  this  time." 

"  This   beats    all.      How  long,  Mrs.  Maule, 


THE    BARBECUE  319 

d'  ye  suppose  that  despatch  has  been  com- 
in'  ?  " 

"  But  Rene  went  two  weeks  ago,"  persisted  the 
perplexed  Mrs.  Maule. 

"MrsMaule,  them  words  was  histed  on  to  the 
wires  this  dav." 
"  Massy  me  !  Where  is  she  ?  " 
"  That 's  the  question." 

Aunt  Kiz  sat  silent  and  uneasy.  At  last  she 
caught  sight  of  a  sunburned  head  peering  up 
from  among  the  planks.  It  was  Billy,  prone 
on  the  ground,  making  his  way  under  the  seats, 
and  lifting  his  head  now  and  then  to  get  his 
bearings. 

"  Billy,"  she  called,  feeling  that  his  presence 
would, as  always, bringsome  change  of  position 
or  conversation. 

Billy  wriggled  himself  out  from  among  the 
boards.  Seeing  Jack,  he  bounded  on  top  of 
the  planks,  jumping  from  one  to  the  other. 
The  planks  bounded  in  turn,  and  the  dis- 
turbed  audience  turned    angrily,  but   ineffec- 


320  JACK    RACER 

tually,  toward  l^illy,  who  presented  to  them 
only  a  lively  back  and  a  pair  of  sturdy  lea;s. 
His  eyes  were  fixed  on  Jack. 
"  Jack,"  he  said,  breathlessly,  "Jack,  I  heard 
every  wordyou  said,  I  was  lookin'  right  straight 
up  at  you,  and  your  chin  went  this  way,"  tak- 
ing his  own  chin  in  his  fingers  and  applying  it 
to  violent  exercise.  "  Let  me  sit  'tween  you 
an'  Lucy." 

"  There  isn't  room,    Billy,  I  thoughtyou  were 
listening  to  me." 

^'  Well,   I   could  n't  always   understand   you. 
You  said  them  big  words  to  show  off  before 
that  big,  fat  man,  did  n't  you  ?  " 
Billy  was  now  trying  to  wedge  himself  in  be- 
tween Jack  and  Lucy. 

"  It 's  a  good  thing  you  're  grown  up.  Jack," 
he  continued,  "  for  if  the  boys  call  you  smarty 
or  proudy,  you  can  lick  'em." 
"  That  I  can,  easily."  Jack  lifted  Billy  up 
summarily  and  sat  him  down  on  the  opposite 
plank. 


THE     BARBECUE  321 

"  Lucy  'd  ruther  have  me  next  her.  Would  n't 
you,  Lucy  ?  " 

"  I  don't  doubt,  youngster.  But  to-day  is  my 
day,"  said  the  young  man  in  a  low  voice,  but 
exultant. 


CHAPTER      TWENTY-ONE 


XXI 


It  is  Again  Evidenced  that  Pride  Goes  Before 
a  Fall 

[HE  next  day  was  Sunday.  The 
excitement  of  the  barbecue  was 
almost  effaced  by  the  later  news 
of  Irene  Burke's  disappearance. 
The  practised  and  nimble  mind 
of  a  little  country  town  disposes  of  circum- 
stances and  manufactures  facts  with  a  neat- 
ness and  skill  of  which  larger  places  with 
events  occupying  a  wider  area  can  have  no 
idea.  Already  the  details  of  Miss  Burke's  dis- 
appearance, its  cause  and  its  object,  presented 
a  coherent  and  exciting  story. 
Of  this  nothino;  was  known  at  the  George  resi- 
dence.  The  sovernor  had  staved  one  night.  The 
squire's  carefully  arranged  programme  included 
morning  serviceatthe  Presbyterian  church.  To 


326  JACK     RACER 

this  Jack  would  cheerfully  go  in  attendance  on 
the  governor.  To  have  sent  Jack  alone  would 
have  been  too  flagrant  an  electioneering  ma- 
ncEuvre,  even  if  Jack  had  been  amenable,  as  the 
squire  was  very  sure  he  would  not  be,  Jack  not 
being  a  church-going  young  man,  differing  in 
this  respect,  as  in  others,  from  the  Pekin  youth. 
The  report  that  the  governor  would  attend 
church  would  nqt  only  insure  the  full  attendance 
of  Presbyterians,  but  of  that  mobile  church-go- 
ing element  which  in  every  place  has  a  keen 
scent  for  ecclesiastical  attractions  not  in  the 
strict  line  of  piety  or  dogma. 
The  governor  carrying  Mrs,  George's  hymn- 
book,  and  Mrs.  George  in  her  best  Chicago 
toilet,  did  not  fail  to  create  an  impression  as  they 
moved  up  the  aisle.  Jack  preceded  them,  and 
did  the  honors  with  his  usual  freedom  from  em- 
barrassment. To  a  large  part  of  the  audience 
—  the  women  —  Mrs.  George  did  seem  truly  an 
enviable  person  as  the  two  distinguished  gentle- 
men stepped  asidethat  she  might  enter  her  pew. 


PRIDE    BEFORE    A    FALL    327 
While  the  governor  received  momentary  con- 
sideration, lasting  w^hile  he  adjusted  his  eye- 
glasses and  politely  found  the  hymn  for  Mrs. 
George,  Jack  was  the  object  of  curious  eyes. 
He  leaned  back  in  the  pew^,  apparently  uncon- 
scious of  attention,  as  became  the  young  duke 
of  Pekin.      A  slight  smile  lingered  on  his  face, 
which  was  not  born  of  the  sermon.     This  was 
indeed  grave,  and  its  note  of  warning,  its  hints 
of  the  trials  and  temptations  to  which  youth  is 
exposed,  ought  to  have  caught  the  ear  of  a 
thoughtful  and  earnest  young  man. 
Although  his  attitude  was  one  of  flattering  at- 
tention to  the  preacher.  Jack  sat  there,  lost, 
drunken,  in  an  enchanted  island  of  his  own  hopes 
and  dreams.     Occasionally  his  eyes  wandered  ; 
and  his  smile  broadened  as  Billy  Campbell, 
peacefully  dozing  in  oneof  the  side  seats,  kicked 
the  little  wooden  footstool  with  a  loud  noise. 
"  I  dreamed  I  was  on  a  fence  and  the  board 
broke,"  he  said,  audibly  and  in  self-defence. 
After  church,  contrary  to  the  customs  of  Pekin, 


328  JACK    RACER 

Jack  accompanied  Mrs.  George  and  the 
governor  directly  home.  It  was  never  Mrs. 
George's  inclination  to  stop,  and  Jack  felt  it 
scarcely  due  the  governor  to  separate  himself 
from  the  church  party. 

Thecrowd  lingering  about  the  church  door  was 
even  larger  than  usual,  and  the  hum  of  conver- 
sation louder.  The  "  Gossip  Exchange,"  as 
Jack  himself  called  it,  was  confined  to  one  ab- 
sorbing topic,  Irene  Burke  and  her  mysterious 
disappearance,  for  it  appeared  Mrs.  Maule  had, 
with  much  persuasion  and  wear  and  tear  of 
mind,  answered  her  telegram,  and  further  ad- 
vices had  made  it  plain  that  Irene's  family  knew 
nothing  of  her  movements. 
Mrs.  Maule  was  thrust  into  sudden  prominence 
by  her  connection  with  the  event.  Heretofore 
she  had  been  a  rusty  widow  on  the  outskirts  of 
every  group.  Now  she  was  the  centre.  She  en- 
joyed her  position,  although  not  quite  at  home 
in  it.  She  had  told  the  story  of  Irene's  going 
in  every  possible  light,  and  had  answered  every 


PRIDE    BEFORE    A    FALL   329 

conceivable  question.  But,  like  most  unimpor- 
tant people,  she  could  not  discriminate  between 
her  own  accidental  connection  with  them  and 
the  dramatic  events  which  she  was  called  upon 
to  relate. 

This  was  felt  even  in  Pekin,  where  artistic  and 
dramatic  narrative  has  never  been  a  matter  of 
consideration,  and  some  impatience  was  un- 
gratefully felt  at  Mrs.  Maule's  manner. 
"  Jack  Racer  druv  her  home,an'  she  was  scarcely 
indoor,  when  she  called  me  an'  dove  for  her 
clothes.  Quicker  'n  you  could  shake  a  stick, 
she  had  every  whipstitch  in,  roUin'  up  her  dresses 
so  fashion,  puttin'  in  white  an'  colored,  as  may 
be.  It  certainly  was  a  sin  an'  shame.  Hurry  's 
worry,  say  I." 

"  But  what  did  she  say,  Mrs.  Maule  ?  " 
^' '  I  'm  agoin'  away,'  says  she,  '  Mrs.  Maule. 
It  's  very  suddent.     But  I  must  be  off  this  very 
night!'" 

"  Did  n't  she  tell  you  why  ?  " 
"  Therewas  no  satisfaction  to  get  anything  out 


330  JACK    RACER 

of  her,  she  was  a  dashin'  away  in  an'  out,  with 
her  hairbrush  in  her  hand." 
"  Did  n't  you  ast  her  pintedly  ?  " 
"  I  knew  it  was  nothin'  agin  me,  nor  the  room. 
Goodness  knows,  I  'd  given  her  the  best  I  had 
as  I  do  this  minit  to  little  Mis'  Stivers,  so  I 
ain't  lost  much  by  Rene  playin'  off  that  way." 
"  Did  Jack  Racer  come  back  for  her  .''  " 
"  No,  she  said  she  'd  go  to  the  depot  and  send 
a  push  cart  for  her  trunk." 
"  I  made  brother  Bill  go  down  and  ask  the  ticket- 
man  whereto  she  'd  bought  her  ticket, but  he  'd 
gone  to  Lima  that  day  an'  his  cousin  peddled 
out  the  tickets  for  him,"  contributed  one  of  the 
group. 

"  It  would  n't  be  past  my  guessin',"  added  an- 
other, "  if  't  was  only  make  believe,  an'  Rene 
was  in  Pekin  this  blessed  day." 
"Where,  where?  "exclaimed  the  eager  listeners. 
"  I  'm  a  thinkin'  she  knows  sumpin.  Oh,  tell 
us,  Mandy  !  " 
"  There  's  places  an'  places,"  said  the  speaker. 


PRIDE  BEFORE  A  FALL  331 
nodding  her  head  and  shutting  her  thin  lips 
tightly,  as  if  the  secret  might  escape. 
"  An'  that 's  a  purty  tale,"  said  Mrs.  Maule 
indignantly.  "  Rene  had  no  call  to  leave  me. 
The  table  stood  an'  waited  for  her  many  's  the 
time,  while  she  was  collogin'  at  the  gate,  an'  I 
never  opened  my  head,  an'  never  once  did  she 
offer  to  help  wash  the  dishes  —  " 
Mrs.  Maule's  indignation  was  cut  short  by  the 
appearanceof  the  Alethodist  congregation.  This 
was  the  signal  for  a  rearrangement  of  the  groups. 
Miss  Samantha  Dyer  was  one  of  the  last  per- 
sons to  see  Miss  Burke,  as  we  know,  on  the  oc- 
casion of  her  return  from  Sparta  with  Jack  Racer 
behind  Fancy.  Those  who  had  listened  with 
patient  interest  to  Mrs.  Maule,  now  gathered 
about  Miss  Dyer,  and  the  Methodist  sisters  cir- 
cled about  Mrs.  Maule.  Still  the  mystery  of 
Irene's  disappearance  did  not  seem  as  inexpli- 
cable to  Mrs.  A4aule  as  the  way  she  packed  her 
trunk.  To  her  going  away  in  the  cars  was  a 
matter  ofdeliberation,  and  the  packing  of  a  trunk 


332  JACK     RACER 

a  ceremony  that  began  a  week  before  the  ap- 
pointed time  for  setting  forth,  by  putting  aside 
the  spare  room  for  the  collection  of  wearing 
apparel  and  the  devotion  of  spare  moments  to 
experimenting  on  their  proper  adjustment  in  the 
trunk.  It  was  impossible  to  get  into  the  heart 
of  the  matter  without  entering  into  this  subject 
and  Mrs.  Maule  was  now  launched. 
Miss  Dyer's  story  was  much  more  meaty  and 
satisfying. 

"Leastwise, that  'salll know," said  Miss  Dyer, 
modestly  deprecating  that  she  had  not  fuller  ad- 
vices, when  her  audience  was  on  tiptoe  all  about 
her,  after  a  free  recital  of  all  she  had  observed 
from  the  Lima  road. 

"  An'  that 's  the  end  of  it.  Rene  Burke  was 
a  cryin'  away  with  her  head  on  Jack  Racer's 
shoulder." 

"  Jack  Racer !  "  exclaimed  the  crowd,  with  the 
precision  of  a  stage  chorus. 
"  Him,  an'  none  other,   I  said,'  Jimmy, looky.' 
But  he's  so  mortial  unsuspectin',  he  turned  the 


PRIDE    BEFORE    A    FALL    333 

wrong  way,  an'  only  got  their  backs  which  was 
straightforad  enough.   But  he  knew  Jack's  rig." 
A  momentary  silence  fell  on  the  listeners.     At 
length  a  hesitating  voice  spoke  : 
"  A  body  might  know  Jack  Racer  's  at  the  bot- 
tom of  it."      That  was  conclusive. 
The  tide  of  popular  favor  yesterday  setting  so 
exultantly  toward  the  young  man,  now  turned 
with  more  than  equal  swiftness  and  swept  Jack 
with  it  along  that  hypothetical  course  Pekin  had 
for  so  long  marked  out  for  him. 
And  this  while  Jack  was  holding  open  the  gate 
for  Mrs.  George  and  the  governor,  the  serene 
smile  still  on  his  lips  and  a  merry  tune  in  his 
heart. 

"A  pretty  justice  indeed, an'a  human  soul  asked 
of  him  this  day,"  said  one  of  the  finally  dis- 
solving crowd,  for  Irene's  fate  seemed  to  have 
been  at  last  determined. 

This  was  partly  but  the  exaggerated  language 
of  the  country,  but  proved  quite  true. 


334  JACK    RACER 

After  their  respective  dinners,  Sam  Limecooly 
and  Will  Triplow,  as  agreed,  went  slowly  and 
thoughtfully  up  to  the  George  mansion. 
They  had  discussed  with  some  earnestness  the 
best  mannerof  approaching  Jack  onthesubject. 
Intimate  as  they  were  with  Jack,  he  was  not  a 
young  man  whose  more  personal  affairs  were 
apt  to  be  a  matter  of  conversation  in  his  pres- 
ence. 

"  It  is  n't  a  question  of  the  girl,  but  of  the  elec- 
tion," Sam  had  wisely  urged.  "  Put  at  him  polit- 
ically, it 's  as  much  our  business  as  his." 
Will  would  have  preferred  to  take  a  more  ro- 
mantic view  of  the  situation.  Miss  Dyer's  story 
had  contributed  the  essential  element  to  Irene's 
disappearance.  Will  had  not  even  confided  to 
Sam  the  story  as  it  rose  to  conclusive  propor- 
tions in  his  own  mind. 

Jack  met  them  at  the  door.  He  was  surprised, 
for  midday  visiting  was  a  form  of  Sunday-break- 
ing not  in  vogue  at  Pekin.  But  he  was  just  as 
p-lad  to  see  them. 


PRIDE    BEFORE    A    FALL    335 

"  Not  come  in  ?  "  for  Will  was  making  silent 
but  emphatic  objections,  not  wishing  to  be  heard 
inside,  and  as  he  felt  became  the  mystery  of  the 
occasion. 

"  No,  Jack,  I  want  to  talk  to  you  about  the 
election.  Let 's  go  up  to  your  den,"  said 
Sam. 

"  All  right,  but  you  need  n't  be  so  eloquently 
solemn  about  it." 

They  climbed  up  the  outside  stairs. 
"  It  must  be  very  pressing,"  Jack  said,  over  his 
shoulder.  "  Have  you  had  your  dinners  ?  I  '11 
ask  Aunt  George  to  set  you  a  couple  of  plates. 
The  exigencies  of  the  campaign  excuse  every- 
thing in  Aunt  George's  eye.  No?  There's 
your  mistake.  The  dinner  is  got  up  to  meet 
the  governor's  appetite,  and  that 's  a  noble  one. 
Now,  fire  away."  Jack  motioned  to  seats  and 
tossed  himself  on  the  lounge. 
Sam  felt  the  difficulties  increase.  He  plunged 
his  hands  in  his  pockets,  as  if  he  might  find  his 
missing  diplomacy  there. 


336  JACK    RACER 

"Jack,  do  you  know  where  's  Irene  Burke  ?  " 
he  asked,  bluntly. 

*'  What  has  that  to  do  with  the  election  ? "  Jack 
returned,  with  equal  bluntness. 
"  Everything,  perhaps." 
"  I  don't  see  it." 

''  Never  mind,  answer  my  question.   Where  's 
Irene  Burke  ?      Do  you  know  ?  " 
"  No.  Yes,  and  it  's  none  of  your  blamed  busi- 
ness." 

"  It  is  your  business." 

"  I  don't  see  that,"  said  Jack,  still  on  his  back. 
"  Well,  I  '11  make  it  plain  to  you,  and  there  's 
no  use  in  your  getting  hufFy  about  it." 
"  Yes,  Jack,  it  is  really  quite  serious.      Much 
depends  on  your  answer,"  ventured  Will. 
«  Bah  !  " 

"  Where  have  your  eyes  and  ears  been  all  morn- 
ing ?  "  asked  Sam.  "  Have  n't  you  seen  every- 
body staring  at  you  ?  " 

Jack  colored.  He  felt  he  might  justly  be  ac- 
cused of  vanity. 


PRIDE    BEFORE    A    FALL    337 
"  There  's  nothing  new  in  that." 
"  It's  funny  you  did  n't  see  the  difference," 
said  Sam,  thoughtfully,  reading  Jack's  mind. 
Jack  colored  again,  and  got  on  his  feet.      He 
could  not  lie  still  with  those  fellows  looking 
into  his  face.      He  remembered  his  complacent 
thoughts  as  he  sat  in  church.  How  little  it  mat- 
tered to  him  that  people  stared.     What  better 
could  they  find  to  look  at  ?      He  felt  a  burn- 
ing sense  of  humiliation  as  he  recalled  his  gratifi- 
cation at  the  situation.     He  cursed  his  conceit. 
He  realized  now  that  he  wanted,  craved,  the 
good  opinion  of  humble  Pekin.      It  all  passed 
through  his  mind  like  a  flash. 
''Tell  me  plumply  what  all  this  means." 
"  Irene  Burke  can't  be  found." 
"  You  mean  she  is  n't  in  Pekin,"  said  Jack,  im- 
patiently walking  up  and  down  the  floor. 
"  She  told  Mrs.Mauleshewas  going  home,  and 
she  is  n't  at  home." 

"  She  did  n't  confide  in  Mrs.  Maule.     That 's 
plain,  but  of  no  importance,"  he  interrupted. 


338  JACK    RACER 

"  But  she  is  wanted  at  home,  her  mother 
is  at  the  point  of  death,  and  she  can't  be 
found." 

"  Why  did  n't  you  say  that  before  ?    You  pre- 
tended you  wanted  to  talk  about  the  election." 
"  Then  you  can  find  her  ?  " 
"I  don't  know  whether  I  can  or  not,  but  drop 
it  now." 

"I  '11  be  hanged  if  I  do.  I  haven't  worked, 
pulled  wires,  and  lied  foryou  to  have  it  go  for 
nothing.  You  've  got  to  clear  this  thing  up  for 
your  own  sake.  That  Dyer  woman 's  spread- 
ing a  pretty  story,  and  the  Martin  people  have 
hooked  on  to  it." 

"  I  don't  want  to  hear  her  accursed  story." 
"  You  know  it,  do  you  ?  Very  well.  After 
that  ride  with  you,  Rene  went  home,  slung 
her  things  in  a  trunk  and  went  away.  She 
has  n't  been  heard  of  since.  There  's  where 
you  come  in." 

Jack  kept  up  his  tramp  across  the  floor.  Sam 
waited  for  a  moment. 


PRIDE    BEFORE    A    FALL    339 

"  A  young  man  who  expects  to  be  made  an 
overseer  of  the  law  can't  afford  to  have  the 
disappearance  of  a  young  woman  on  his  hands, 
and  that's  just  where  it  is." 
Still  Jack  said  nothing. 

"If  you  can  tell  where  Irene  Burke  is,  it's 
all  right.      But  if  you  don't,  I  would  n't  give 
a  picayune  for  your  chances." 
Again  Sam  paused. 

"  The  town  seems  very  much  aroused,"  in- 
sinuated Will. 

"Will  you  tell  ?  Will  you  explain  ?  I  can 
easily  make  it  all  right  for  you,  if  you  will." 
"  I  '11  be  essentially  damned  if  I  do  ! "  roared 
Jack,  planting  himself  in  front  of  them. 
When  the  two  disgusted  and  disappointed  young 
men  had  gone.  Jack  went  to  the  stables,  put 
Fancy  in  harness,  and  started  for  Sparta.  How 
odious  was  the  well-known  road.  He  hated 
it,  every  turn.  He  drove  into  Sparta  in  his 
accustomed  manner,  effective  on  weekdays, 
but   now,  on  Sunday,  to  the  orderly  church- 


340  JACK    RACER 

going  people  on  their  way  to  afternoon  service 
the  flying  wheels  and  sharp  click  of  Fancy's 
feet  seemed  an  impudent  disregard  of  the  laws 
of  God  and  man.  But  Jack  was  thinking  of 
neither. 

He  drove  up  to  the  telegraph  office,  but  found 
it  closed.  He  jumped  in  the  buggy  and  went 
to  the  station.  That,  too,  was  locked.  He 
drew  out  a  time-table.  "  Two  hours.  I  '11  be 
dashed  if  I  wait." 

Fancy  sped  again,  and  Jack  sprang  out  and 
knocked  peremptorily  at  a  white  frame  house. 
A  girl  came  around  the  corner  from  the  kitchen 
door.  Such  a  response  indicated  the  absence 
of  all  the  principals.  Jack  execrated  his  luck. 
Leaving  Fancy,  he  walked  up  the  street  to  a 
brown  house  with  a  verandah,  and  pulled  the 
bell  loud  enough  to  overcome  the  sounds  of  a 
cabinet  organ  within.  The  door  opened  and 
he  disappeared,  to  reappear  with  a  sullen- 
looking  young  man  who  went  with  him  to  the 
telegraph  office.      There  Jack  wrote  three  tele- 


PRIDE  BEFORE  A  FALL  341 
grams  addressed  to  Miss  Camille  Lamar,  and 
sent  them  to  three  different  towns.  To  the 
youth  who  sent  them  they  seemed  unimpor- 
tant, and  warranted  no  such  pressing  haste. 
He  resented  more  than  ever  being  dragged 
away  from  the  cabinet  organ  and  the  young 
ladv  who  presided  there. 
But  the  service  rendered,  Jack  took  him  over  to 
the  Palace  Hotel,  where,  descending  an  inside 
staircase  they  found  entrance  to  the  ^'  Home 
Circle,"  inhabited  now  by  a  few  commercial 
travellers.  Here  they  smoked  several  cigars. 
The  commercial  men  relieved  Jack  of  further 
burden  of  entertainment,  and  Jack  left  the 
vouth  listening  to  strange  tales  of  a  far 
city. 

When  Jack  finally  drove  through  the  darkened 
streets  of  Pekin,  light  streamed  from  the  church 
windows,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sparkins  was  making 
a  personal  appeal  in  the  interests  of  public  mo- 
rality and  decency  that  the  light  and  unworthy 
might  be  signally  discomfited. 


342  JACK    RACER 

The  light  and  unworthy,  in  the  light  of  recent 
events,  everyone  understood  to  be  Jack  Racer, 
and  that  the  influence  of  the  congregation  was 
to  be  directed  toward  making  Squire  Martin's 
son-in-law  a  squire. 


CHAPTER      TWENTY-TWO 


XXII 

The  Squire  is  Awakened  to  the  Hour's  Perils 

F  this  new  element  in  the 
campaign  Squire  George 
knew  nothing.  While  fur- 
thering Jack's  interest,  he 
had  done  it  in  his  own  way. 
Personally  he  maintained  a  discreet  and  dig- 
nified attitude.  Moreover,  he  inspired  a  cer- 
tain awe.  Being  a  large,  well-dressed  man, 
with  a  bank  account  and  outside  interests  as 
far  away  as  New  Orleans,  he  would  not  be 
addressed  by  everyone  on  such  a  subject.  The 
Governor  had  left  on  the  Sunday  night  train. 
Sunday  travelling  was  not  favorably  regarded  at 
Pekin,  but  executed  in  the  twilight  it  seemed 
far  less  heinous  than  in  the  broad  light  of 
afternoon. 


346  JACK    RACER 

The  squire  had  not  seen  his  nephew  since 
dinner,  for  when  Jack  came  home  from  Sparta 
he  sought  the  solitude  of  his  own  room.  When 
he  appeared  late  at  breakfast  the  next  morn- 
ing, the  squire  felt  too  well  satisfied  with  the 
way  things  were  going  to  reproach  the  young 
man  for  habits  that  so  little  became  a  candi- 
date the  day  before  election. 
The  squire's  respect  for  Jack  had  increased 
immensely.  He  was  prepared  for  the  easy 
way  in  which  he  walked  into  people's  affec- 
tions. He  expected  to  see  men  working  for 
him,  and  hallooing  their  throats  hoarse  ;  but 
the  young  man  had  shown  a  strength  of  men- 
tal fibre  he  had  not  suspected,  and  a  disposition 
to  cut  out  new  paths  for  himself  that  seemed 
to  sustain  his  fondest  hopes. 
As  the  squire  looked  at  his  nephew  this  morn- 
ing he  was  more  clearly  than  ever  convinced  he 
was  right.  Jack  was  unusually  grave  and  with 
a  gravity  that  became  a  future  legislator.  The 
squire  got  up  from  the  table  in  a  serene  mood. 


THE    HOUR'S    PERILS     347 
"What  is  the  programme  to-day,  Jack?  " 
"  I  'm  going  with  Knowles  to  McCormick's 
Run.      That  will  about  finish  the  business," 
applying  himself  to  another  egg. 
"  You  and  Knowles  make  a  pretty  good  team. 
I  should  say  Knowles  had  modeled  his  oratory 
on  the  lines  of  a  cyclone.     But  it  tells.    Your 
own  wav  is  n't  bad,  young  man.     But  did  you 
ever  see  anybody  so  elementary  and  conde- 
scending as  the  governor  ?      Now,  you  don't 
know  more  than  everybody  else." 
Jack  gave  a  short  laugh. 

"And  you  don't  pretend  to.  Pshaw,  there 
are  fashions  in  all  things  as  much  as  in  your 
aunt's  bonnets.  It  made  me  laugh  to  hear 
that  old  cock's  pump-handle  eloquence,"  sit- 
ting down  to  discuss  his  late  guest  more  com- 
fortably. 

"  It  was  pretty  dry,  all  the  same." 
"  You  see,  the  governor's  getting  a  leetle  past 
his  prime.     When  he  is  n't  soft-soaping,  he's 
browbeating.     Now  that's  passy^  as  the  novel- 


348  JACK    RACER 

writers  say.  The  people  are  n't  fools,  and  they 
know  when  a  man  's  talking  from  the  outside 
or  from  the  inside.  There's  just  where  you 
got  the  handle.  You  put  it  to  'em  straight. 
If  you'd  laid  awake  nights,  you  couldn't  have 
hit  anything  neater  than  that  easy,  man-to-man 
style  of  yours." 

"I  believe,  Uncle,  you  think  I  selected  it  out 
of  a  sample  lot,"  poking  holes  in  the  table- 
cloth with  his  fork,  as  he  spoke. 
"  Not  at  all.  It 's  temperamental.  I  told  you 
in  the  beginning  you  were  cut  out  for  this  sort 
of  thing." 

Jack  ground  his  teeth  together. 
"  But  here  's  where  I  was  wrong.      I  thought 
your  success  would  be  merely  personal  —  ad- 
dress, magnetism,  dash  —  " 
"  Cheek  ?  "  queried  Jack. 
"If  you  like.     You  said  it.     I  didn't.    What 
I  did  n't  think  was  that  you  had  such  a  grip  in 
larger  matters." 
"  It   all   depends.  Uncle,   on  which  way  you 


THE  HOUR'S  PERILS  349 
switch  your  thoughts  —  a  question  of  direc- 
tion." 

"  Politics,  not  pool,  eh  ?  Well,  the  chief 
thing  is,  you  got  hold  of  something  vital.  The 
people  here  don't  care  two  pins  about  civil 
service  reform  and  all  such  abstractions,  but 
they're  touched  mightily  when  the  boxing  and 
freight  cost  more  than  they  can  realize  on  the 
fruit,  and  sweat  like  horses  over  local  rates 
that  they  have  to  pay  for  the  infernal  cut- 
throat competition  on  the  through  lines.  I've 
thought  all  the  time  it  would  be  well  for  you 
to  take  up  a  specialty.  There  it  is." 
''But  aren't  you  a  sort  of  attorney  for  the 
road  ?  " 

"A  bit  of  pettifogging.  But  that's  all  the' 
better  for  you,  see  ?  Independence  and  all 
that.  It'll  railroad  you  into  the  governor's 
chair  —  well  managed.  Besides,  in  the  long 
run  it  pays  to  be  on  the  side  of  the  people,  and 
your  career,  if  I  'm  a  judge,  is  n't  going  to  be 
snuffed  out  in  a  jiffy." 


350  JACK    RACER 

"But,  Uncle,  does  n't  it  occur  to  you  that  I 
may  get  left  ?  "  He  straightened  his  legs  un- 
der the  table  and  looked  up  under  his  eye- 
brows. 

"  Left,  your  granny  !  If  there  ever  was  any 
doubt,  on  Saturday  it  flew  to  the  winds.  By 
Zux,"  he  exclaimed, with  sudden  reminiscence, 
"with  tears  in  my  eyes,  I  couldn't  quite  credit 
it." 

"  Credit  what  ?  " 

The  squire  got  up  from  his  chair. 
"  That  was  a  touch,  Jack.      I  never  came  so 
near  thinking  you  weren't  genuine  through  and 
through.      But  I  believe  you  are,  boy,  I  believe 
you  are." 

'A  shadow  passed  across  the  young  man's  face. 
The  rack,  he  thought,  was  nothing  to  this. 
"  Now  there  's  another  point  in  your  favor. 
You  're  sympathetic.  Now  you  're  not  the  sort 
of  fellow  to  hang  out  your  emotion,  but  when 
you  do,  it  tells.  Now  there,"  with  a  wave  of 
his  hand  and  resting  one  foot  on  a  chair,"  merely, 


THE    HOUR'S    PERILS     351 

you  know,  merely  as  an  appropriate  element, 
in  a  maiden  speech,  among  old  friends,  among 
familiar  faces,  nothing  could  have  been  better. 
It  polished  off  the  whole  business." 
Jack  opened  his  lips,  but,  growing  in  wisdom, 
he  changed  his  position  and  did   not  speak. 
"Bless  my  soul,  it's  nearly  ten  o'clock.      By 
the  way,  Jack"  —  the   squire  turned   at  the 
door  —  "if  you  are  going  out  to  the  Run,  I 
would  n't  say  much  about  law,  order,  and  that 
sort  of  thing.      Old  McCormick  himself  was 
once  collared  bytheVigilantsfor  horse-stealing; 
but  just  whoop  it  up  on  the  railroads." 
When  his  uncle  had  gone.  Jack  sat  still,  his 
legs  under  the  table  and  his  chin  on  his  breast, 
until  he  was  recalled  by  the  manoeuvres  of 
Margaret  peeping  in  at  him  through  the  door, 
and    in    terror   lest    the    neighbors    catch    her 
breakfast  table  standing  at  so  unholy  an  hour. 
"  Come,  Margaret,"  he  called.     "  You  and  I 
have  both  got  to  get  through  this  day  somehow. 
Heaven   help  you  if  Samantha  Dyer  catches 


352  JACK    RACER 

your  dishes  unwashed,  and  as  for  me,  well, 
I've  got  to  go  it  alone," 

Squire  George  went  about  his  affairs  assured 
that  Jack  needed  no  further  help  from  him. 
It  was  an  inward  source  of  joy  that  while  old 
Martin's  coat-tails  were  flying  around  every 
corner,  he  could  leave  Jack's  affairs  to  take 
care  of  themselves.  Of  what  other  fellow,  he 
asked  himself,  could  that  be  said  on  the  day 
before  election  ?  It  justified  all  the  hopes  he 
had  placed  on  the  boy.  Outwardly  the  squire 
was  ostentatiously  indifferent.  His  walk  was 
slower,  his  manner  more  reserved  than  usual. 
He  spoke  to  several  men  as  he  went  along, 
but  on  remote  topics,  —  the  price  of  wheat  in 
the  east  and  the  prospect  of  war  in  Europe. 
Sam  Limecooly  was  not  in  the  mood  to  talk 
about  Bulgaria  and  the  Czar. 
"Where  is  Jack  this  morning?"  he  asked, 
with  some  abruptness,  after  listening  to  the 
squire  on  the  decline  of  England  as  a  factor  in 
international  affairs. 


THE  HOUR'S  PERILS  353 
"  Jack?  Jaclc,oh,he'sdawdIingover  hisbrealc- 
fast,"  pride  struggling  through  his  assumed  in- 
difference. "  If  you  want  to  see  him,  you  'd 
best  hurry.  I  remember  he 's  going  to  get 
Knowles  out  of  a  sort  of  coil  at  McCormick's 
Run.  What  do  you  say  to  that  for  a  begin- 
ner ?  " 

"  Say  ?      Why,  that  charity  begins  at  home." 
"  Oh,  he  's  all  safe.     Sam,  has  n't  Jack  sur- 
prised you  out  of  your  boots  ?  " 
"  Then  he  has  —  "   but  the  squire  did  not 
wait  for  interruptions. 

"  He  '11  sweep  the  town.  No  doubt  about 
it.  Then  next  year  we  '11  give  him  to  the 
county." 

Sam  groaned  ;   evidently,  Jack  had  n't. 
"  Hold  on.  Squire,  there  's  a  little  complication. 
That 's  what  I  want  to  talk  to  you  about." 
"  Complication  ?     There  's  where  you  're  off. 
I  never  saw  a  cleaner  furrow." 
"  It 's  an  outside  matter,"  Sam  mumbled,  "  but 
it 's  playing  hob  generally." 
23 


354  JACK     RACER 

The  squire  smiled  benevolently  at  fears  so 
little  befitting  young  blood. 
"  Very  well.  Come,  Sam,  let  us  go  back  to 
the  office,  and  we  '11  talk  it  over.  Good  morn- 
ing, Doctor;  fine  day.  I  was  on  my  way  to 
see  you  about  that  bay  of  yours,  but  it  will 
hold  over.  Limecooly  has  a  little  legal  point 
he  wants  me  to  settle  for  him." 
The  squire  let  no  little  artistic  touches  be  want- 
ing to  the  part  he  had  marked  out  for  himself. 
The  two  men  said  no  more  until  they  got  into 
the  office. 

"  The  long  and  short  of  it  is,  Jack  is  going  to 
be  defeated  unless  he  '11  set  a  matter  straight. 
He  can  do  it ;   but  he  won't." 
"  Pooh,  pooh,  Limecooly  !     What  is  it  ?     I  '11 
attend  to  it  myself," 

"  That  is  the  worst  of  it ;  you  can't,  that  is, 
unless  you  can  influence  Jack.      1  can't." 
"I '11  do  that,"  said  the  squire,  airily,  "but 
unload,  man." 
"  You  know  Miss  Burke  ?  " 


THE  HOUR'S  PERIJ.S  355 
"  A  woman,  eh  ?  Yes,  I  know  her.  One  of 
Jack's  flames." 

"  She  's  missing,  and  Jack  knows  where  she 
is." 

"  And  won't  tell  !  A  woman's  secret ;  Jack  's 
a  gentleman." 

"  Look  here.  Squire,  to  put  it  in  plain  English, 
a  feeling 's  got  abroad  that  Jack  is  responsible, 
and  that  there  is  something  pretty  black  about 
the  whole  business." 

"  Now,  Sam,  for  a  sober-headed  fellow,"  said 
the  squire,  blandly,  "aren't  you  putting  it 
pretty  strong  ?  " 

Sam  felt  his  tale  was  befitting  that  romantic 
youth.  Will  Triplow,  and  blushed  rosily. 
"  That 's  neither  here  nor  there;  of  course,  you 
and  I  know  it 's  all  poppycock." 
"  I  should  say  Jack  is  a  philandering  sort  of 
fellow,  but  he  would  n't  harm  a  fly,  much  less 
anything  that  wears  petticoats." 
"  But  don't  you  see,  Squire,  the  handle  it  gives. 
The  preachers  had  him  for  a  text  last  night  3 


356  JACK    RACER 

you    know    what    that    means.      The   whole 

town  's  in  a  ferment.      Look  !  "     Sam  sprang 

to  the  window  ;  the  squire  followed   him,  but 

Sam  pressed  him  back. 

"  Don't  give  them  that  satisfaction."   A  crowd 

of  men,  women  and  boys  were  passing,  who 

looked   curiously  at  the   office,   scanning  the 

upper  windows.      "  Do  you  take  in  the  sense 

of  that  ?     They  pretend  to  be  hunting  Rene 

Burke.     They  're  going  to  drag  Martin's  pond, 

and  another  gang  is  beating  the  timber." 

"  Drag  Martin's  pond  !    The  whelps  !  "    The 

squire  watched  from   his  retreat  until  the  last 

boy  had  turned  the  corner. 

"  That  was  the  reason  old  Martin  was  flying 

around allmorning  like  a  hen  on  a  hot  griddle," 

Sam  nodded. 

"  They  don't  believe  it,  themselves,  but  it  will 

lay  Jack  out  just  as  hard  —  that  is,  unless  he 

explains.      A  word  from  him  would   settle  it. 

Jerusalem  Crickets  !  "  said  Sam,  waxing  angry 

as  he  spoke.      "  He  owes  it  to  us,  if  he  don't 


THE  HOUR'S  PERILS  357 
to  himself  or  the  girl,  but  he  's  obstinate  as  a 
mule." 

The  squire's  face  had  lost  its  mask  of  indiffer- 
ence.     He  was  white  with  rage. 
"  The  thing  is  serious,  I  see  that,  Sam.      Now 
tell  me  the  whole  story." 


CHAPTER     TWENTY-THREE 


XXIII 

Curious  Social  Attentions  Follow  Unpopularity 

FTER  his  midday  dinner  the 
squire  set  out  for  McCor- 
mick's  Run.  He  had  never 
meddled  in  Jack's  feminine 
affairs  and  he  now  felt  Hke 
a  coward  ;  but  he  was  a  coward  pursued  by  a 
still  greater  danger.  So  he  pushed  on.  He 
meditated  on  what  he  should  say.  Just  how 
much  lay  underneath  this  story  that  was  con- 
vulsing the  little  town,  he  did  not  know.  That 
there  was  enough  to  warrant  his  approaching 
Jack  as  the  uncle  of  his  nephew,  he  believed. 
He  thought  of  several  ways  of  opening  the  con- 
versation, but  each  seemed  alike  too  serious 
and  too  impertinent.  Finally,  as  did  Sam,  he 
concluded  to  keep  the  matter  purely  political. 


362  JACK    RACER 

From  afar  he  saw  the  little  red  schoolhouse 
in  which  the  meeting  was  held,  and  his  heart 
sank.  As  he  approached,  the  men  leaning 
against  the  fences  and  grouped  about  the  door- 
way suddenly  vanished  into  the  house  and  a 
couple  of  girls  in  sun-bonnets  scurried  across 
the  meadow. 

"  Jack  's  speaking,"  he  said,  with  a  complacent 
smile. 

Jack  was  speaking.  As  Squire  George  tied 
his  horse  he  heard  the  crowd  laugh,  and  Jack's 
insinuating  tones. 

"  I  won't  go  in,"  he  thought.  "  He  '11  know 
why  I  came." 

He  saw  a  knothole  in  one  of  the  red  boards, 
and,  leaning  by  its  side,  he  applied  there  his 
eye.  Standing  on  a  level  he  could  see  Jack's 
knowing  legs.  He  watched  them  curiously 
and  with  admiration.  On  their  changing  and 
easy  movement  he  predicated  the  young  man's 
upward  and  more  important  half. 
Finally,  his  curiosity  getting  more  insistent,  he 


UNPOPULARITY  363 

stooped  until  he  could  get  the  range  of  Jack's 
face.  He  could  not  hear  what  he  said,  but 
watched,  in  a  way  entranced,  the  play  of  Jack's 
features,  the  comical  glance,  the  upward  turn 
of  the  mouth.  Thus  he  anticipated  the  sug- 
gestive epithet,  the  pointed  phrase,  and  Jack's 
pause  of  half  surprise  when  the  liberal  guffaws 
interrupted  his  speech. 

'■'■  Was  there  ever  such  a  boy  ?  "  he  thought, 
then  groaned. 

For  a  man  of  the  squire's  parts, peeping  through 
a  knotholewas  not  a  dignifiedposition.  When 
a  boy  came  out  to  look  after  a  restless  horse, 
he  realized  this,  and  straightened  himself  with 
alacrity. 

"When  Mr.  Racer  is  through  speaking,  will 
you  hand  him  my  card  .?  "  he  took  occasion 
to  say. 

The  boy  eyed  the  card  with  awe,  then  stretched 
forth  a  dirty  little  paw. 

The  house  broke  into  applause  and  presently 
Jack  came  forth. 


364  JACK    RACER 

"You,  Uncle  George?     The   boy  said,   'a 

gentleman.'    I  supposed  I  'd  find  a  girf-hand." 

Jack  laughed,  and  the  squire   pointed  to  the 

card  in  his  hand,  which  the  young  man,  in  his 

exhilaration,  had  not  noticed. 

"  Jack,  you  know  why  I  'm  here.      Oh, boy  !  " 

dropping  his  voice. 

"  Yes,  I  know."      His  face  sobered.     "  I  'm 

sorry.  Uncle,  but  it  can't  be  helped." 

"  Don't  say  that.  Jack.     Tell  me  the  trouble, 

Jack,  I  '11  set  it  straight." 

"There's   nothing  to  tell —  only  they  think 

differently  in  Pekin." 

"  What  has  become  of  that  girl,  Jack  ?  " 

Jack  blushed, 

"  I  can't  say,  Uncle." 

"  Won't,  you  mean." 

"If  you  care  to  put  it  that  way." 

"  Don't  you  think  you  owe  it  to  the  girl  to 

stop  that  howling  mob  over  there  ?  " 

Jack  put  his  hands  in  his  pockets  and  dug  his 

heels  in  the  turf. 


UNPOPULARITY  365 

"  Do  vou  know  that  thev  're  dredging  Martin's 
pond  and  ransacking  the  timber  ?  " 
Jack  gave  an  insolent  laugh. 
"  Don't  laugh,  Jack.     It 's  too  horrible.      But 
don't  think,  bov,  I  don't  trust  you." 
"  Uncle,  listen.      The  thing  has  got  to  go  on 
for  all  I   can  do.      What  I   most  feel   is  your 
disappointment ;  for,  of  course,  I  know  the  up- 
shot of  the  whole   matter.      Put  Pekin  on  a 
moral  scent,  and  she  '11  bury  her  nose  in  mire. 
Very  well,  let  them  have  it." 
"  What  do  you  mean  to  do  ?  " 
"Just  what   I  would   have  done  in  any  case, 
no  more,  no  less." 

Jack  was  not  a  person  who  needed  to  reiterate 
his  position.     The  squire  urged  no  more. 
"Very  well.  Jack.      You  know  best,"  he  said, 
meekly. 

"Don't  think  I  'm  insensible  to  your  coming 
out  here,"  Jack  said,  in  a  low  voice,  following 
his  uncle  to  the  hitching-post. 
His  tone  gave  the  squire  new  courage. 


366  JACK    RACER 

"  Jack, if  you  have  got  into  any  sort  of  trouble  — 
that  young  woman  —  "  falling  into  new  em- 
barrassment, "  young  men  will  be  young 
men  —  " 

"  If  I  get  into  a  hole,  Uncle,  I  '11  claim  your 
hand,"  the  young  man  answered,  calmly. 
"  You  may  be  sure  of  that." 
The  squire  jumped  into  his  buggy  and  drove 
away,  feeling  an  untoward  sense  of  shame. 
To  relieve  himself  he  fell  to  abusing  Pekin  — 
its  rival  lawyers  and  candidates,  its  finely-scented 
nose  for  scandal,  its  unholy  zeal  in  discovering 
wrongdoing,  its  peculiar  methods  of  punish- 
ment. "Damned  curious,  hypocritical,  co- 
horting  — "  but  there  can  be  no  profit  in 
following  out  the  squire's  train  of  thought, 
although  it  was  sweetly  satisfactory  and  calm- 
ing to  his  ruffled  spirit. 

Knowles  preferred  to  remain  behind  and  take 
supper  with  young  McCormick,  who  was  still 
on  the  fence  ;  and  left  Jack  to  go  home  alone. 
Fancy  took  her  own  leisurely  way,  and  Jack 


UNPOPULARITY  367 

was  not  averse.  The  day  had  given  him 
sufficient  food  for  thought.  The  squire  had 
refrained  from  telling  Jack  the  details  of  the 
uproar  in  town,  but  Jack  had  heard  something 
of  it  from  a  returned  farmer.  But  as  McCor- 
mick's  Run  had  no  voice  in  the  selection  of  a 
justice,  the  story  had  not  greatly  appealed  to 
that  neighborhood. 

Jack  felt  it  first  like  the  lash  of  a  whip.  Chaff- 
ing-with  the  farmers  and  mill-hands,  a  tumult 
of  thoughts  raged  through  his  brain.  While 
he  was  speaking,  his  manner  still  easy  and 
self-possessed,  his  speech  clear-cut,  his  humor 
adapting  itself  to  the  situation,  above  all  he  felt 
his  anger  beat  and  rage,  and  finally  sink  into 
weakness  and  silence. 

When  his  uncle  came.  Jack  was  calm  ;  his 
mind  accepted  the  situation  ;  his  anger  was 
gone.  He  now  felt  sad,  inexpressibly  sad,  as 
he  drove  slowly  home. 

As  we  know,  he  was  not  a  young  man 
much   given  to  retrospection,  but   he  looked 


368  JACK    RACER 

back  now  and  felt  himself  truly  a  creature  of 
fate. 

Was  this  what  he  had  intended  ?  He  had  set 
about  making  himself  worthy  a  bright  young 
creature,  who  some  way  had  found  a  place  in 
his  heart,  and  whom  he  now  felt  necessary  to 
any  future  he  could  conceive  for  himself.  What 
better  motive  could  inspire  any  man  ?  he  asked 
himself;  and  at  the  thought  he  felt  a  warm 
current  thrill  his  body  and  illumine  his  face. 
Then  he  had  performed  an  act  of  self-sacrifice 
to  please  his  uncle.  No  one  knew  how  great 
a  sacrifice  it  had  been.  But  he  had  found  a 
certain  pleasure  in  it,  after  all,  and  certainly 
what  appeared  to  be  its  results  were  gratifying. 
And  now  this  was  the  outcome.  Pah  !  A 
vulgar  story.  He  felt  his  new  life  defiled.  He 
had  never  troubled  himself  much  before  about 
what  people  said  of  him.  Now  he  felt  stained. 
"And  others  —  what  did  they  think?" 
"She  has  heard  it  all.  She  has  had  to  think — " 
New  ano-er   stirred  within    him.      He  threw 


UNPOPULARITY  369 

out  his  hand  as  if  to  ward  oft' something,  with 
a  man's  manly  impulse  to  shield  those  who  are 
dear  to  him  from  even  the  knowledge  of  evil  — 
to  preserve  the  blush  to  the  rose,  the  bloom 
to  the  plum.  He  groaned  in  his  impotence. 
With  a  movement  of  despair  he  threw  up  his 
head  and  afar,  at  the  side  of  the  road,  saw  two 
figures.  One,  stift",  elderly,  carrying  a  basket, 
walked  sedately  forward.  The  other,  young 
and  lithe,  swinging  a  tin  pail,  darted  from  side 
to  side  among  the  brown  grasses. 
"  A  robin  among  the  stubble,"  said  Jack,  and 
quickly  gathered  up  the  idle  lines.  Fancy 
bounded  forward.  As  he  approached.  Jack 
felt  that  he  had  yielded  to  a  reckless  impulse. 
Why  did  he  not  stay  in  the  background  where 
he  belonged  ? 

Aunt  Kiz  turned  her  head. 
"  Oh  !      It 's  you,"  she  said  dryly. 
"  Yes.      Can't  I  give  you  a  lift  ?  " 
"  Well,  no,  hardly,"  she  said,  with  a  quick 
resentment  against  Jack's  buggy,  which,  as  the 
24 


370  JACK    RACER 

sceneof  Miss  Burke's  tears,  had  figured  some- 
what largely,  as  we  know,  in  the  public  mind. 
"We  'rehuntin'  butter  and  nestin'  for  eggs," 
she  said,  recovering  herself.  Then,  again  with 
her  old  wilfulness, — 

"  It  seemed  a  good  afternoon  to  come  to  the 
country." 
Jack  flushed. 

"  At  least,  let  me  take  your  baskets,  if  you 
won't  come  with  me.  They  're  heavy.  I 
think  you  can  trust  me  that  far,"  not  caring 
to  ignore  her  meaning. 

Lucy  was  in  advance,  her  arms  full  of  the  rich 
spoils  of  the  wayside,  brown,  red,  purple,  and 
gold.  Her  heart  was  sore  and  she  had  not 
cared  to  turn  around.  But  now  Aunt  Kiz's 
sharp  words  fell  on  her  ear. 
"Thank  ye,  all  the  same.  Lucy  and  I  can 
carry  our  own  burdens." 

Going  directly  toward  the  buggy,  Lucy  held 
up  her  bundle  of  grasses. 
"If  Jack  will  take  these,  I'm  sure  I'll  be 


UNPOPULARITY  371 

awfully  obliged.  Jack,  will  you  ?  "  and  con- 
fidently laid  her  treasures  at  his  feet. 
Jack  did  not  speak, but  drewwells  of  comfort 
from  one  downward  glance  into  her  eyes. 
"  You  know  I  can  send  Billy  to  the  stable 
afterthem,"  she  said, rejoining  Aunt  Kiz.  And 
he  left  them. 

When  Fancy  was  stalled  Jack  went  directly  to 
his  room.  He  had  lost  the  exhilaration  that 
sustained  the  remainder  of  his  drive.  He  had 
never  troubled  himself  deeply  about  his  Aunt 
George,  but  it  seemed  a  sort  of  degradation 
that  even  she  might  have  heard  the  gossip  of 
Pekin.  Many  things  had  been  kept  from  her, 
he  knew.  He  felt  now  no  more  fit  to  present 
himself  before  her  than  if  he  had  had  on  muddy 
boots  and  Splashed  trousers.  "  Mire  is  mire," 
he  said  to  himself. 

Nor  did  he  care  to  listen  to  the  details  of  the 
dragging  of  Martin's  pond,  prattled  possibly  by 
his  aunt  in  an  unaccustomed  attempt  to  be 
angry.    Without  making  a  light  he  tossed  him- 


372  JACK    RACER 

self  on  the  lounge  and  bui'ied  his  face  in  the 
pillows. 

How  long  he  lay  there  he  did  not  know,  evi- 
dently he  had  been  asleep.  Now  he  heard  a 
creaking  on  the  stairs;  then  the  rustle  of  petti- 
coats and  an  ominous  scratch  across  the  sole 
of  a  shoe.  A  faint  flicker,  and  the  tiny  flame 
of  a  tallow  candle  sprang  into  life. 
"  Women,  as  I  'm  a  sinner."  Jack,  all  his 
senses  now  alert,  sank  back  on  the  lounge,  and 
fortified  his  position  bv  the  pillows  behind  which 
he  distinguished  Miss  Dyer  and  the  faithful 
Bergan. 

Jack's  sense  of  humor  revived  as  he  watched 
them  tiptoeing  about  his  room,  peering  into 
the  closets,  and  — 

"  By  Jove,  under  the  bed  !  After  burglars  ?  " 
he  queried  gleefully  to  himself. 
All  this  time  they  had  not  spoken.  Mrs.  Ber- 
gan had  essayed  several  attempts,  but  Miss 
Dyer  held  up  a  warning  finger,  and  she  swal- 
lowed her  words  with  a  curious  gurgle. 


UNPOPULARITY  373 

At  last  they  rested  in  their  search,  and  sat 
down  in  Jack's  comfortable  chairs.  Miss 
Dyer  sniffed  audibly  at  the  luxury  they  repre- 
sented, but  Mrs.  Bergan  bounded  up  and  down 
in  great  contentment,  then,  flinging  her  body 
around,  buried  her  nose  in  the  depths  of  her 
chair. 

"Leather!"  she  made  silently  with  a  great, 
round  mouth. 

"Why  don't  ye  speak  out.  Mis'  Bergan,  a- 
makin'  faces  that 's  redikilous  to  see." 
"  But  ye  tol'  me  not.  I  never  met  up  with  a 
woman,  S'manth,  as  is  as  onreasonable  —  " 
"  Tut !  There  's  nobody  here,  as  I  'd  thought 
you  'd  a-seed.  Wherever  that  poor  girl  may 
be,  if  she  's  on  top  of  this  yearth,  she  ain't 
hyar." 

Jack  gave  a  prolonged,  but  silent,  Oh-h-h ! 
"  As  for  him,"  Miss  Dyer  said,  with  emphasis, 
"  he  's  soft-sawderin'  up  to  McCormick's." 
"Then  I'd  like  to  peek  round  a  little,  seein' 
as  we  're  here." 


374  JACK     RACER 

"Ye  '11  be  none  the  better  for  it,  Mis'  Bergan, 

mark  my  words,"  answered  Miss  Dyer,  while 

Mrs.  Bergan  was  snuffing  the  waning  candle 

with  her  fingers. 

"  Well,  I  've  been  a  married  woman,  S'manth," 

answered  Mrs.  Bergan,  rising  to  those  heights 

which  a  married  woman  can  always  command, 

"an'  what  mightn't  be  right  or  maidenly  in  a 

girl  like  you,  ain't  goin'  t'  phase  me." 

"  Rubbitch,"  answered  Miss  Dyer.   "  Bergan  's 

been  dead  twenty  year." 

But   Mrs.  Bergan  was  on  her  way,  tiptoeing 

with  a  fine  sense  of  fitness,  her  candle  snuffed 

and  burning.     Before  Jack's  well-fitted  buffet 

she  paused  and  put  down  her   light.      Then, 

taking  out  the  stoppers  she  buried  her  nose  in 

each  decanter,  emitting  at  each  a  significant 

and  varied  sniff. 

"  If  ary  one  of  us  had  a  pain  we  could  take  a 

nip,"  she  said. 

"  I  believe  you  've  a  hankerin',  Mis'  Bergan," 

Miss  Dyer  said  sternly,  from  her  chair. 


UNPOPULARITY  375 

"Well,  I  'm  dry  enough  to  dreen  Jordan.    I  'd 
like  to  find  a  drink  of  water." 
"  Humph  !     I  don't  s'pose  Jack   Racer  ever 
teches  water.    They  do  say  Mis'  George  don't 
drink  it  without  a  lump  of  ice.     I  know  she's 
got  a  big  silver  pitcher." 
With  a  final  sniff,  iMrs.   Bergan  reluctantly 
passed  on,  pausing  to  finger  a  silk  quilt  on  the 
foot  of  Jack's  bed.      Then  she  brought  both 
her  eyes  and  candle  to  bear. 
"  Lined  with  Mis'  George's  secon'  day  dress. 
You  remember  that  sheeny  yallerated  purple 
Turk  satin,  S'manth." 

Carefully  she  steered  her  way  among  the  chairs, 
making  side  excursions  to  the  wall  where  Jack's 
highly-colored  pictures  made  themselves  seen 
even  in  the  light  of  a  solitary  tallow  dip. 
"Humph!  I'll  be  bound,  racin'  critters  goin' 
lickety  split." 

She  lifted  her  head,  and,  as  if  by  a  magnet,  she 
bore  toward  the  adjoining  wall,  ashy  horror 
overspreading  her  face. 


376  JACK    RACER 

A  glance,  then  she  dashed  toward  Miss  Dyer 
musing  in  the  depths  of  the  leather  chair,  and 
clutched  her  shoulder. 
"  It 's  all  true,  every  word  of  it  's  true  !  " 
Miss  Dyer  sprang  up. 

"  What  is  it  ye  've  found.  Mis'  Bergan  ?  Tell 
me.  Is  it — is  it — Blood?"  Her  voice  sank 
into  a  husky  whisper. 

Mrs.  Bergan  had  hold  of  her  arm,  pulling 
her  to  the  wall,  while  the  wobbling  candle 
in  the  other  hand  was  dropping  streams  of 
grease. 

"Or  is  it  a  bit  of  one  of  her  gyarments ?  " 
"  It 's  a  shameless  female,  with  nigh  to  nothin' 
on,  pintin'  her  leg  most  unnatcheral." 
"  An'  you  've  given  me  sich  a  start  for  a  pict- 
chur  ?  You  are  the  beatenest  woman  !  "  ex- 
claimed Miss  Dyer,justly  angry  at  being  jerked 
back  from  the  heels  of  a  tragedy  in  such  a 
frivolous  manner. 

"  But  only  look  at  her,  S'manth,  a-pintin'  her 
toe  as  easy  as  you  'd  pint  your  ring  finger." 


UNPOPULARITY  377 

"  It's  nothin'  but  an  ornen'  circus  woman." 
"  She 's  a  purty  young  thing,  too."  Mrs.  Ber- 
gan  held  the  candle  nearer.  "  May  be  she  ain't 
no  mother.  I  s'pose  she  had  to  dress  that  way 
or  she  could  n't  manage  her  toe." 
"  Mebbe,  you  '11  say,  she  had  to  have  her 
photograph  took  for  Jack  Racers  to  buy.  Sich 
conductions  !  " 

Mrs.  Bergan  became  tenderly  reminiscent. 
"  Many  's  a  time  at   home  we  girls  tried  to 
touch  the  mantelpiece  with  our  feet.      Elviry 
could   do  it  easy,  but  I  was  allays  stiff-knit. 
Now  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  this  girl  thought 
the  photograph  man  had  his  head  under  the 
black  cloth  an'  did  n't  see  her." 
"  An'  he  lookin'  through  the  peep-hole  all  the 
time,  as  she  ought  to  a  know'd." 
A  scratch  of  a  match,  a  sudden  light,  and  Jack 
came  forward  with  a  lamp.      The  two  women 
were  so  absorbed  that  they  heard  nothing  until 
he  stood  by  their  side.     The  lamp  seemed  to 
have  the  light  of  a  central  sun. 


378  JACK    RACER 

"  Land  a  massy  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Bergan, 
letting  her  candle  fall. 

"Never  mind,"  said  Jack.  "The  lamp's 
worth  twenty  candles.  I  'm  glad  you  find  my 
picture  worth  your  notice.  It 's  Fanny  Ellsler, 
a  famous  dancer,  you  know,  before  you  and  I 
were  born,  Miss  Dyer."  He  bowed  gallantly. 
"  But  come,  I  have  several  other  things  quite 
worth  seeing.  I  don't  often  have  ladies  to 
visit  me  and  I  'm  disposed  to  make  the  most 
of  it.  Be  careful  of  that  stool,  Mrs.  Bergan." 
The  women,  still  too  astonished  to  speak,  fol- 
lowed him  silently. 

"This  is  Eclipse,  a  famous  racer.  But  —  I 
can't  expect  you  to  be  interested  in  the  turf. 
Let  me  show  you  something  better  worth 
your  attention.  Here  is  a  sampler  my  grand- 
mother worked.  It  was  almost  in  tatters, 
but  I  've  had  it  framed.  Look  at  those  funny 
flower-pots.  Here  is  her  name.  Step  up 
on  the  sofa,  Mrs.  Bergan ;  you  too.  Miss 
Dyer." 


UNPOPULARITY  379 

The  women  climbed  up  obediently  and  bent 
their  noses  to  the  faded  stitches. 
"  Can  you  read  it  ?  '  Elizabeth  Campbell  is 
my  name.  Clermont  County  is  my  Dwelling 
Place.'  I  can  just  remember  her.  I  know 
she  saved  me  many  a  spanking.  But  perhaps 
you  think  if  I  had  had  more  spankings  I  'd 
have  been  a  better  chap."  Miss  Dyer  essayed 
to  speak.  "  What,  you  must  go  ?  Oh,  don't 
apologize.  I  am  only  too  proud  to  have  ladies 
visit  me  under  any  circumstances.  Let  me 
light  you  down." 

In  spite  of  Mrs.  Bergan's  waving  hand,  for  she 
had  not  yet  found  her  tongue.  Jack  stepped 
before  them,  lamp  in  hand,  and  preceded  them 
down  the  stairs. 

He  opened  the  door  of  the  office  and  the  women 
stepped  out.  He  followed  them  to  the  step. 
The  light  of  his  lamp  held  high  in  his  hand, 
fell  on  a  crowd  of  men,  women,  and  children, 
who  had  been  waiting:  there  to  hear  the  women 
report. 


380  JACK    RACER 

Jack's  eyes  flashed  fire. 

"  If  any  of  you  curs  will  come   up   into   my 

room,  I  will  be  glad  to  extend  its  hospitalities 

to  you  —  and  then  to  pitch  you  out   of  the 

window." 

The  men  shrank  back  into  the  darkness  and 

he  shut  the  door. 


CHAPTER       TWENTY -FOUR 


XXIV 


The  Campbell  Family  "  Stands  By  "  Nobly 

HE  next  morningushered  in  elec- 
tion dav.  Thehouseholderswere 
up  betimes.  The  men  hurried 
through  their  breakfasts  to  be 
off,  get  their  shutters  opened, 
shops  swept,  and  goods  disposed  for  thccountry 
trade,  which  was  always  lively  and  matinal  on 
election  day. 

The  women  were  no  less  in  haste,  darting  in 
and  out  of  doors  with  pails  of  water  which 
they  dashed  over  the  front  doorsteps  and  stone 
flags.  This  was  an  essential  ceremony.  Here 
they  would  in  all  probability  sit  and  catch  the 
floating  gossip  of  the  street  when  obliged  to 
be  at  home.  For,  as  has  been  intimated,  there 
was  no  etiquette  in  Pekin  which  forbade  women 
sallying   forth  on   election  day  to  learn  what 


384  JACK     RACER 

was  abroad.  This,  it  seems,  in  a  republic  is 
quite  an  ideal  state  of  affairs. 
To  this  early  stir  the  George  household  was 
an  exception.  After  the  cordial  invitation 
given  to  the  men  waiting  for  the  descent  of 
Mrs.  Bergan  and  Miss  Dyer,  Jack  went  up- 
stairs in  lighter  spirits.  He  had  filliped  a  stone. 
He  hoped  it  hurt  somebody.  The  whole  affair, 
by  his  light,  was  so  ridiculous  that  he  longed 
to  share  it  with  somebody.  No,  he  could  wait. 
At  least  he  would  tell  Sam  and  Will  of  the 
women's  visit.  So  he  plunged  his  head  in  cold 
water,  refreshed  his  toilet,  and  sallied  out  into 
the  darkness  as  fresh  and  smiling  as  the  morn 
he  would  probably  greet  before  he  found  his 
bed. 

Sam  roared  lustily  over  Jack's  description  of 
the  tiptoeing  Bergan  and  the  results  of  her 
tour  about  his  room.  But  Will,  who  we  know 
was  a  student  of  human  nature,  was  more 
than  ever  secretly  impressed  with  Jack's  char- 
acter.     In  his  view.  Jack  was  dancing  on  the 


"STANDS  BY"  NOBLY  385 
brink  of  a  volcano.  It  interested  him  to  see 
this  perilous  feat.  To  be  one  of  the  intimates 
of  a  fellow  who  could  do  this  sort  of  thing 
was  a  matter  for  gratulation. 
The  next  morning  Jack  was  not  so  mirthful. 
He  came  in  languidly  to  the  late  breakfast. 
The  squire  wondered  silently  how  Jack  would 
comport  himself.  Of  course  the  game  was 
up,  but  would  Jack  admit  it  ?  Again  he  was 
at  sea  regarding  his  nephew,  who  appeared  to 
have  springs  of  action  altogether  out  of  his 
experience,  which  gave  him  a  feeling  of  help- 
lessness quite  unusual  to  the  masterful  squire. 
Mrs.  George  perceived  nothing  unusual  in  the 
situation. 

"  '  Lo,  the  conquering  hero  comes,'  "  she  said, 
reaching  for  the  coffee-pot. 
Jack  grimaced,  and  gave  his  uncle  a  comical 
smile. 

"  Aunt  George,  if  I  'm  not  elected  I  'm  com- 
ing home  to  bury  my  face  and  cry  in  your 
apron,  as  I  used  to  when  I  stubbed  my  toe." 

25 


386  JACK    RACER 

"Jack,  you   never  were  a  boy  to   whimper! 
Have  you  forgotten  Amelia  Maria  ?  " 
"  The  squirrel  ?      Never." 
"  When  Amelia  Maria  ran  back  to  the  timber 
you  did  come  in  with  big  tears  and  laid  your  head 
in  my  lap.    I  tried  to  cheer  you, and  you  said: 
'  It  did  n't  love  me,  or  it  would  n't   have  run 
away,'  then  burst  into  tears." 
"  Poor  little  chap.      1  'm  sensitive  to  that  sort 
of  thing  now." 

Mrs.  George  easily  strayed  along  by  any  con- 
versational thread.  As  Jack  seemed  disposed 
to  encourage  her,  the  squire  got  up  from  the 
table.  In  the  face  of  staring  facts  he  was  in 
no  mood  for  such  fooling. 
"  Jack,  where  will  I  meet  you  ?  "  he  asked, 
thinking  he  might  venture  that  far  to  discover 
his  nephew's  intentions. 

"  I  '11  be  about  as  usual.  Uncle,"  answering 
what  he  understood  to  be  his  uncle's  desire. 
"  I  '11  lend  the  moral  support  of  my  presence. 
That  seems  about  all  that  can  be  done." 


"STANDS    BY"    NOBLY    387 
The  squire  took  his  resolution  by  both  hands. 
"  It  isn't  too  late  yet,  Jack,  to  —  " 
Jack  held  up  one  hand,  and  averted  his  face. 
The  squire  said  no  more,  but  started  down  the 
walk,  wishing  he  had  held  his  speech. 
Jack's  intentions  were,  in  fact,  not  clearly  out- 
lined in  his  own  mind.      He  knew  he  meant 
to  be  about  as  usual.     That  of  course.      But 
he  felt  unusually  shy  at  exposing  his  presence 
in  the  Pekin  streets.      He  sat  still  for  some 
minutes  ;  then  rose  hastily  with  a  cheery  word, 
and  bent  his  brow  to  his  aunt's  lips. 
"  For  good  luck,"  he  said. 
"  What  can  a  woman's  kiss  do.  Jack  ?  "  she 
asked,  with  a  gratified  flush. 
"What?"  exclaimed  the  young  man,  in  genuine 
astonishment.      "  It   can  make  the  world  go 
round.      Unluckily,   you   little  women  don't 
know  it." 

At  length  he  sauntered  forth,  stopping  to  put 
a  late-blooming  aster  in  his  buttonhole.  In 
Pekin  a  man  did  not  wear  flowers  in  his  but- 


388  JACK    RACER 

tonhole  unless  he  was  going  to  be  married  or 
to  assist  at  some  such  festal  occasion.  Jack's 
posy  now  gave  the  usual  jaunty  air  to  his  ap- 
pearance. But,  in  fact,  his  mood  was  quite 
subdued. 

As  he  walked  along,  he  saw  without  looking, 
women  run  to  the  windows,  peep  out  curiously, 
and  draw  hastily  back  behind  the  altheas  and 
sweetbriers.  The  children  stopped  playing  and 
looked  at  him  silently,  then  began  to  whisper 
behind  their  hands.  The  girls  going  home 
from  early  shopping,  with  cambric  or  beef- 
steak in  brown  paper  parcels,  nodded  shyly 
and  passed  on.  He  felt  sure  they  turned  and 
looked  at  him,  and  felt  shivering  chills  run  up 
his  spine. 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  had  lost  my  wife  or  had  just 
come  home  from  New  York,"  he  laughed  to 
himself. 

The  polls  had  long  been  open.  Groups  of 
men  stood  on  the  corners  and  upheld  the  trees. 
Attached  to  one  of  these  was  Jake  Durstine, 


''STANDS    BY"    NOBLY    389 

who,  seeing  Jack  approach,  hastily  came  for- 
ward. 

Jack  was  touched  bv  Jake's  eager  effort  to 
show  his  friendship.  The  other  men  looked 
shamefaced  and  Jack  knew  he  had  been  under 
discussion.  Embarrassment  sat  even  on  Jake's 
face,  red  with  the  combined  efforts  of  the 
weather  and  many  juleps,  and  standing  out 
against  the  background  of  sallow  faces  of  Pekin 
proper. 

"  Good  morning,  Jake.  Good  morning,  gentle- 
men." 

«  Mornin',  Jack." 

"Mornin'."     The  men  shuffled  further  back, 
and  two  edged  behind  the  tree. 
"  Voting  pretty  brisk  ?  " 

"  Lively  a  poll  as  ever  I  see.  Limecooly's 
peddlin'  out  your  tickets." 
"I'm  safer  in  Sam's  hands  than  my  own. 
I've  washed  mine,"  with  an  airy  gesture. 
The  men  looked  at  the  white,  slim,  well-kept 
hands,  until  Jack  stowed  them  in  his  pockets 
to  cut  off  their  oraze. 


390  JACK    RACER 

"Old    Martin's    buzzin'    about    since    five 

o'clock." 

"  He'll  get  the   shakes,  and  want  me  to  pay 

his  doctor  bills,"  said  Jack. 

"  There  's   his  shay  now,"  exclaimed  one  of 

the  men. 

"Who's  he  got?" 

"  It 's  ol'  Jess  Lemmons.      He  's  been  down 

two  months  with  neurology  of  the  nerves." 

"  Why,  Jess,  he  's  a  psalm-singer.    They  don't 

take  no  interest  in  politics." 

•■'It's  the  wimmen,  his  sisters.     They  wuship 

with  the  Methodis'.     The  parson  teched  up 

their  duties  Sunday  night." 

"So  Lizy  Ann  said.     I  stayed  home  with  the 

children.     She 's  all  full  of  it." 

"Females  come  out  strong  in  a  moral  crisis." 

"  My  ol'  woman  's  druv  me  nearly  wild  'bout 

the  '  responsibilities  of  householders.'    It 's  my 

opinion  them  preachers  lie  awake  to  git  hold 

o'  catchin'  words   to   hook    in   the  wimmen's 

ears  like  earbobs." 


"STANDS    BY"    NOBLY    391 

The  two  men  defended  by  the  tree  regained 

their  speech,  and  in  the  fertility  of  the  subject 

forgot  Jack's  presence. 

"  The  vvimmen  are  dead  agin  you,  Jack,"  said 

Jake. 

"Yes.   That's  what  hits  me,  Jake.    I'd  rather 

be  laid  out  by  the  men." 

"  'Zactly.     No  man  wants  to  be  kicked  by  a 

mule,"  answered  Jake,  who  was  a  bachelor. 

Jack  laughed. 

"That  was  n't  mv  idea,  Jake.     As  thev  know 

the  course,  a  string  of  women  will  run  pretty 

straight." 

The  two  men,  perceiving  thev  were  overheard, 

sidled  away  with  vague  excuses  of  haste. 

"  Pore   creeturs.     Ain't   either   of  'em  wuth 

shucks.     They  say  Ab  buttons  the  children's 

clothes  mornin's.     I  see  him  myself  milkin'," 

concluded  Jake,  with  a  sniff  of  scorn  for  such 

unmanly  acts. 

Jack  walked  along  the  street  in  a  leisurely  way, 

and  saw  with  amusement,  tempered  by  various 


392  JACK    RACER 

and  less  exhilarating  emotions,  how  quickly  his 
presence  scattered  a  knot  of  men. 
He  felt  himself  to  be  in  quite  his  usual  man- 
ner. His  cheery  voice,  his  readiness  to  allude 
to  the  business  and  probabilities  of  the  day, 
struck  him  as  the  right  note. 
"What  the  hang  do  they  slink  away  for?  I 
don't  care  a  picayune  how  they  voted." 
It  was  this  cheerful  acceptance  of  the  situation 
that  was  most  embarrassing.  In  Pekin  it  was 
not  customary  to  conceal  one's  feelings.  Dif- 
ferences of  opinion  were  likely  to  become 
personal  grievances,  and  to  be  followed  by  or- 
ganized silence.  Who  should  speak  first  was 
left  to  accident,  sometimes  long  delayed  after 
the  smart  had  healed. 

Jack's  conduct  threw  Pekin  out  of  its  reckon- 
ing, and  placed  it,  although  acting  from  a  high 
moral  standpoint,  somehow  unaccountably  in 
the  wrong.  The  men  commented  on  it  after 
they  left  him,  and  began  to  make  excuses  one 
to  another  for  their  actions.     These  sounded 


"STANDS  BY"  NOBLY  393 
nobly,  but  each  went  his  way  dissatisfied  and 
unconvinced. 

Jack  now  sat  on  a  store  box  alone,  cutting  into 
it  with  great  zeal  and  a  show  of  absorbing 
occupation. 

A  small  boy  stood  off  a  short  distance,  looking 
at  him.  Still  without  Jack's  seeing  him,  he 
came  up  closer.  Wrenching  off  a  piece  of  a 
root  he  was  chewing,  he  held  it  out  in  a  friendly 
way. 

"  Have  a  piece  of  lickerish  root.  Jack  ?  " 
"  Billy  Campbell !  "  the  young  man  exclaimed, 
with  an  odd  gulp  in  his  throat.      For  an  instant 
he  realized  his  isolation. 

"  Come."  He  stuck  out  his  boot  and  swune 
Billy  on  to  the  box  beside  him. 
There  seemed  to  be  a  moment  of  embarrass- 
ment for  both.  Jack  went  on  with  his  whittling, 
but  his  heart  felt  cheerier. 
Billy  watched  him  silently  for  some  minutes. 
"  I  know  that  letter  you  're  makin'.  It 's  L." 
Jack  gave  a  wide  sweep  with  his  knife. 


394  JACK    RACER 

"  It 's  going  to  be  a  B  for  Billy." 

"  An'   if  the    boys  say  '  Fools'    names, '  you 

know,  to  me,  I  '11  kick  'em." 

"  Oh,  I  mus'n't  help  to  break  the  peace,"  Jack 

laughed,  and  shaved  away  the  letter. 

Billy  looked  at  him  anxiously  for  someminutes, 

then  spoke. 

"  Jack,  we  voted  your  ticket  this  mornin'." 

"  I  knew  I  could  depend  on  you  every  time." 

"  But  it  was  a  squally  time,  I  can  tell  you," 

he  said,  confidentially.     "  Aunt  Kiz  has  jus' 

been  churnin'  aroun'  the  house  for  two  days. 

An'  this  mornin'  she  tol'   father  he  'd  got  to 

go  an'  vote   for  Jack  Racer,  or  she  'd  know 

the  reason  why.      Father  said  he  allays  meant 

to,  but  he  was  n't  goin'  to  be  bullyragged  by  a 

woman,  an'  he  did  n't  know  whether  he  would 

or  not.     Then  mother  tried  to  dast  him,  but 

her  jaws    was  tied  up   so  tight  she   could  n' 

speak." 

"  And  Lucy,  what  did  she  say  ?  "     Jack  dug 

harder  into  the  wood  than  ever. 


"STANDS  BY"  NOBLY  395 
"  Oh,  Lucy  ain't  any  account  in  a  row,"  said 
Billy,  with  some  contempt.  "She  jus'  opens 
her  eyes  an'  looks  at  you  like  our  old  cow. 
But,  Jack,  I  went  with  father  to  see  what  he  'd 
do,  an'  he  jus'  sung  out  :  '  Give  me  Racer's 
ticket,'  an'  chucked  it  into  the  box." 
"  Then  I  'm  as  good  as  elected,  Billy." 
Billy  looked  grave. 

"  You  don'   want  to  be  squire  very  bad,  do 
you.  Jack  ?  " 

"  Why  not,  Billy  ?  "   Billy  thought  a  moment. 
"  You  '11  have  to  hear  a  lot  of  cussin'   from 
bad  men." 
Jack  laughed. 

"  You  are  letting  me  down  easily,  Billy." 
Billy  did  not  understand,  but  he  was  not  a 
boy  to  announce  the  fact.  His  face  sobered 
again.  Jack  returned  to  his  knife,  and  Billy 
lifted  his  eyes  and  appeared  to  study  the  young 
man  curiously,  stretching  his  neck  to  see  Jack's 
back, and  running  his  eyes  down  Jack's  trouser- 
legs. 


396  JACK    RACER 

Finally,  impelled  by  some  underlying  curiosity, 
he  spoke. 

"Jack,  when  men  don't  like  ladies   what  do 
they  do  with  them  ?  " 

"  Billy,  men  always  like  ladies,"  Jack  an- 
swered, gravely. 
Billy  hesitated  a  moment. 
"Bob  Wally  says  they  cut  'em  up,  and — " 
"  Good  God  !  "  Jack  sprang  off  the  box. 
"  Shut  up,  you  imp.  At  least  the  babes  and 
sucklings  might  be  spared,"  he  exclaimed,  des- 
perately. "  Billy,  look  at  me.  Look  at  me 
straight  in  the  eyes."  The  boy  lifted  his 
freckled  face, his  stubbed  nose,  and  honest  gray 
eyes.  "There,  now.  Go  about  your  busi- 
ness." 

Billy  stole  his  hand  into  Jack's  palm.     The 
young  man  smiled,  but  his  eyes  grew  misty. 
"  It 's  all  right,  Billy.     Now,  skip." 
Billybounded  away,  assured  andlighterof  heart. 
Jack  watched  him,  his   mobile  features  now 
grown  hard.      Then,  shaking  himself  with  an 


"STANDS  BY"  NOBLY  397 
oath,  he  went  to  Sam's  room  over  the  store, 
which  had  served  him  as  political  headquarters 
during  this  momentous  campaign. 
He  sat  down  at  a  table  and  pulled  over  the 
electioneering  documents  — the  political  tracts 
and  the  flaming  handbillsbearing  his  own  name. 
Strewn  about  were  clippings  from  the  country 
newspapers.  He  read  with  new  interest  ac- 
counts of  his  impressive  oratory,  of  his  distin- 
guished appearance,  of  the  importance  of  his 
family,  of  his  wealth,  his  social  attractions. 
Adjectives  were  truly  not  spared  to  set  him 
forth.  Sitting  now  here  alone,  having  dis- 
solved every  group  that  he  had  come  in  con- 
tact with  that  day  with  the  rapidity  of  an  active 
chemical,  the  contrast  struck  him  like  a  blow. 
Then  he  burst  into  a  loud  laugh. 
"  Bv  Zux,  if  I  am  so  soon  done  for,  I  wonder 
why  I  was  begun  for." 

He  jumped  up  and  strode  up  and  down  the 
room. 
"  Fate  seems  to  be   making  a  highly  distin- 


398  JACK    RACER 

guished  fool  of  herself,"  he  said,  with  unusual 
discourtesy  to  the  sex.  "I'd  like  to  see  her 
photograph  when  she  comes  to  her  senses," 
His  face  cleared,  he  began  to  whistle  "  Wait 
Till  The  Clouds  Roll  By,"  and  went  again 
into  the  street. 

"  I  verily  believe  I  'm  hungry,"  feeling  himself 
normal  again.      He  looked  at  his  watch.     The 
George  dinner  hour  had  gone  by. 
"First  I  '11  pay  myself  the  compliment  of  vot- 
ing and  then  I  '11  invade  an  oyster  parlor." 


CHAPTER      TWENTY- FIVE 


XXV 

Important  News  Comes  Too  Late 

HERE  were  but  few  loiterers 
around  the  polls.  The  busi- 
ness of  voting  had  been  done 
I  early  in  the  morning.  Then 
'  the  air  was  full  of  excitement. 
Now,  perhaps  aided  by  the  noon  dinner, — heavy 
dumplings  and  unlimited  pie,  —  a  languid  and 
depressing  calmness  hung  over  the  scene. 
The  men  giving  out  the  ballots  seemed  to  be 
too  busy  with  their  affairs  inside  to  look  upas 
Jack  passed  by. 

He  smiled  softly  to  himself,  and  did  not  dis- 
turb them. 

As  he  slipped  his  ballot  in  the  box,  one  of  the 
inspectors  took  occasion  to  remark  politely  ; 
"  We  are  having  fine  weather.  Jack," 
26 


402  JACK     RACER 

"  Yes,"  answered  Jack.     "  But  I  should  n't 
be  surprised  if  the  weather  changed." 
Their  voices  seemed  phenomenally  clear,  and 
their  remarks  full  of  weight. 
Jack  smiled  again  to  himself,  and  went  out 
into  the  street. 

The  dishes  were  washed,  and  women  in  after- 
noon calicoes  and  clean  white  aprons  came 
sallying  out  of  gates.  Up  the  street  a  group 
of  girls  were  talking  in  the  shadow  of  a  tree. 
Among  them  Jack  recognized  Anna  Ross. 
They  had  seen  him  and  were  in  animated  and, 
as  he  approached  them, embarrassingdiscussion. 
Two  of  the  girls  hastened  away.  Anna's  face 
was  red. 

"Blood  on  the  moon  !  She  has  been  giving 
somebody  a  dressing,"  Jack  thought. 
The  girls  drew  shyly  back  against  the  fence, 
but  Anna  intercepted  him. 
"  How  lucky,  Jack.  I'm  going  your  way." 
Jack  lifted  his  hat,  but  Anna,  deigning  no 
word  of  farewell  to  her  companions,  marched 
at  his  side. 


IMPORTANT  NEWS  403 
They  walked  on  for  some  mijiutes  without 
speaking,  Jack  too  languid,  Anna  too  intent  on 
her  intentions.  She  had  the  step  of  a  grenadier 
and  carried  her  head  at  an  angle  eloquent  of 
defiance  and  disdain. 

"  I  want  to  go  down  pumpway  and  see  if  my 
'  Designer  '  has  come,"  alluding  to  a  gazette 
of  fashion  by  which  the  Pekin  styles  were  reg- 
ulated. 

When  this  was  accomplished  she  again  broke 
silence. 

"  If  you  have  n't  anything  better  to  do,  Jack, 
come  help  me  do  my  errands." 
"  Yours,"  he  said.      "  I  don't  seem  to  be  in 
demand." 

Anna's  errands  cropped  up  like  dragon's  teeth. 
Jack  found  himself  strolling  through  all  the 
worthier  parts  of  the  town.  The  women  sit- 
ting on  the  steps  found  sudden  calls  indoors 
as  they  approached.  At  such  moments,  Anna 
broke  into  sudden  gayety  andheld  herheadaloft. 
"  I  feel  like  a  dancing  bear,"  thought  Jack. 


404  JACK    RACER 

"  I  seem  to  scare  the  children,"  but  he  was  at  the 
same  time  amused  and  touched  at  Anna's  pluck. 
"  I  'm  going  now  to  Sam  Limecooly's  store  to 
buy  mc  a  gingham  apron." 
"  I  '11  help  you  to  choose  it.  Sam  will  con- 
sider it  a  delicate  attention  if  I  drop  in  and 
ask  how  the  election  is  going.  Headquarters 
are  in  his  loft." 

Anna  hesitated,  but  did  not  venture  to  speak. 
Instead,  she  was  glad  to  cry  out : 
"  There  comes  Amzi.  He  has  his  linen  duster 
on.  He  must  have  been  on  the  cars." 
Amzi  waved  a  carpet-bag  and  hurried  to  meet 
them.  His  face  shone  with  heat  and  anticipa- 
tion. 

''  Howdy,  both  of  you  ?  " 
''Where 've  you  been,  Amzi?"    Anna  de- 
manded. 

"■  Just  from  Potsdam.       Jack,  I  mean  to  get 
one  in  for  you  yet." 

"  There  's   no  hurry,   my  boy.      The  rush  is 
over." 


IMPORTANT    NEWS       405 
"  What  did  you  go  to  Potsdam  for,  Amzi  ?  " 
Anna  returned  to  the  charge. 
"  A  matter  of  business.      I  just  clipped  over 
on  the  owl,  Saturday  night." 
"  You  went  to  take  some  girl  to  meetin'." 
"  I  carried  mother's  hymn-book  then.      She  's 
visitin'   Peninnah  Lewis    there.      But  if  you 
want  news,  Anna,  I've  brung  it." 
The    irradiation    of  Amzi's    face    increased. 
There   was  no  doubt    about  the   importance 
of   his  tidings.      He  could  afford  to  delay  a 
little. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  sitting  on  the  edge  of  a  store 
box,  braced  by  his  feet,  and  carefully  wrapping 
his  long  linen  duster  around  his  legs.  "  Yes, 
siree,  I  'm  the  man  in  possession  of  news. 
Now  where  do  you  think  I  was  last  night  ? 
Put  on  your  guessin'  caps  now,  will  you?" 
slapping  his  right  leg  and  readjusting  his  dust- 
coat. 

"  Wait  a  minute,  Amzi.  Here  come  Sam 
and  Will.     Paralyze  us  altogether." 


4o6  JACK    RACER 

The  two  young  men  came  out  of  the  store 

with  melancholy  step. 

"  Hurry,  boys.    Amzi  's  got  a  bomb,  an'  we  '11 

all  go  off  together." 

"Hurryyourgreat-grandmother,"growledSam. 

"  News,  Amzi  ?  "  Will's  face  brightened. 

"  I  was  at  Potsdam  last  night,  boys,  and  where 

do  you  think  I  went  ?  "  Amzi  looks  all  around, 

in  smiling  defiance. 

"  I  went  to  the  Cantata." 

"  Ah  —  h —  h  !  "  groaned  his  audience,  and 

Jack  shifted  his  position. 

'*•  Oh,  I  'm  not  done.     Who  do  you  think  I 

saw  there  ?  " 

"  Old  Stivers." 

"The  Haughty  Haman." 

"  Yes,"  exclaimed  Amzi,  nodding  his  head, 

"  and  I  saw  somebody  else  —  Miss  Camille 

Lamar."     This  with  the  air  of  a  man  who 

has  yet  in  reserve. 

"  By  Zux  !      Then  that  telegram  did  n't  catch 

her,"  Jack  exclaimed. 


IMPORTANT  NEWS  407 
The  threeturned  to  him.  His  face  was  clouded 
with  anxiety. 

"  But,"  continued  Amzi,  not  pleased  with  the 
interruption,  "  who  is  Aliss  Camille  Lamar  ? 
There  I  have  you." 

"  The  prettiest  girl  in  Potsdam,"  said  Will. 
"  And  old  Stivers  had  his  arm  around  her," 
Sam  added. 

"  Rene  Burke."     Amzi's  bomb  had  exploded. 
Anna  gave  a  little  cry.     To  Amzi's  surprise, 
his  audience  wheeled  around  to  Jack,  who  was 
grinding  his  heel  in  thought. 
"  You  knew  this  ?  "  asked  Sam. 
"  Yes." 

"  Why  in  the  dickens  did  n't  you  tell  it  ?  " 
"  It  did  n't  occur  to  me." 
Amzi  was  aggrieved.  He  knew  his  news  was 
interesting,  and  he  had  rehearsed  the  telling  of 
it  in  the  cars.  To  be  thus  despoiled  of  his 
triumph  was  bitter.  He  began  to  grow 
sullen. 

"  Oh,"  said  he  to  the  group  still  absorbed  in 


4o8  JACK    RACER 

the  silent  youngman, "if  youall  know  so  much, 

I'd  a'  better  —  " 

"  Don't  be  a  fool,"  said  Anna,  amicably, 

"Why  in  the  name  of  common  sense  did  n't 

you  come  home  last  night  on  the  owl  ?  "    Sam 

turned  to  him  angrily. 

"  Yes,  Amzi,  you  should  have  come  home  last 

night ;  then  we  could  have  struck  off  posters," 

added  Will. 

Jack  laughed  aloud  at  this. 

"  Will,  I  'd  have  given  a  dollar  to  have  read 

one." 

"  Well,  if  I  'm  to  be  bullied  and  kept  out  of 

all  this  — " 

Amzi  took  his  legs  from  out  his  duster. 

"  Sit  down,  silly."    Anna  pushed  him  gently. 

"  Hold,  Amzi.    Was  there  anybody  with  you 

when  you  saw  Miss  Burke  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"Yes.     Doc  Dennis,  and  if  you  don't  believe 

me,  you  can  ask  him." 

"  Amzi,  you  are  old  Truth  from  Truthville. 

We  can't  head  Doc  off.    I  've  no  more  to  say." 


IMPORTANT  NEWS  409 
"  Jack,  you  don't  mean  to  screen  her  anv 
longer  ?  " 

"  I   don't   mean  anything,  Anna.     The  em- 
bar2;o's  raised,  whether  I  will  or  no." 
"  Now,  fellows,  this  ain't  fair.     I  've  told  you 
everything."   Amzi  rose  to  demand  his  rights. 
"Stay,  I  don't  want  to  hear  it.     Sam,  this  has 
been  hard  on  you,  old  fellow.    I  'm  not  insen- 
sible."    And  Jack  ran  upstairs,  leaving  Will 
agape  with  admiration,  and  Amzi  and  Anna 
confidentiallv  seated  on  the  store  box. 
Jack  felt  relieved.      He  walked  briskly  about 
the  lonelv  headquarters  and  among  the  mock- 
ing  campaign  documents,  whistling  a  merry 
tune.     Then  he  checked  himself. 
"  I  'd  have  kept  it  if  I  could,"  he  said,  as  if  in 
reproach. 

As  he  mused,  his  uncle  entered.  Jack  awaited 
him  with  a  smile,  but  the  squire's  brow  was 
heavy. 

"  They  tell  me  that  Burke  girl  has  run  off  with 
that  singing  jack." 


410  JACK    RACER 

"That's  putting  it  rather  steep." 
"  And  you  knew  it  all  the  time  !  " 
"  Not  all  the  time." 

"  Well,  what  part  of  the  time  ?  —  If  you  '11  be 
good  enough  to  explain." 
"When  Knowles  and  I  were  campaigning,  I 
saw  Stivers's  posters.  From  —  from  something 
I  knew,"  —  the  young  man  hesitated  —  "I 
concluded  Miss  Camille  Lamar  was  one  of 
Rene's  whims.  It  wasn't  my  place  to  sow  it 
broadcast." 

"But  when  that  telegram  came,  sir,  it  was  your 
duty  to  her  mother." 

"  I  did  all  I  could.  I  drove  to  Sparta  and  tele- 
graphed her  on  Sunday,  but  I  'm  deucedly  afraid 
she  did  n't  get  it.  By  the  way,  have  you  heard 
how  her  mother  is  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  and  I  don't  care.  Jack,  you  've 
sacrificed  us  all.  As  pretty  an  election  as  ever 
I  saw  has  been  thrown  away  for  that  hussy." 
"  Don't  call  names.  Rene  's  a  good  enough 
sort,  Uncle.      But  she  can  take  care  of  her- 


IMPORTANT  NEWS  4TI 
self.  I  don't  know  but  she'd  enjoy  this  breeze. 
I  did  n't  hold  mv  tongue  for  her." 
"  Then  will  you  please  to  tell  me  the  mean- 
ing of  all  this  quixotic  business.''  I  'm  blamed 
if  I  know." 

"  This  freak  of  Rene's  may  all  come  to  an  end, 
and  Stivers's  wife  is  in  town.    It  would  be  rather 
hard  on  her,  you  see." 
"  \Vhat !  "  roared  the  squire. 
He  could  understand  some  sacrifice  for  that 
handsome  creature,  Miss  Burke. 
"What!   For  that   little,   washed-out,  straw- 
colored  woman  !      Oh,  Jack,"  he  groaned  in 
disgust.      Then    without   further    words,    he 
turned  on   his  heel  and   left  the  room. 
Jack  was  once  more  alone. 


CHAPTER     TWENTY-SIX 


XXVI 

Pekin  Changes  Its  Mind  and  Lucy  Discloses 
Hers 

(HERE  was  to  be  a  bonfire  that 
evening  in  front  of  the  Martin 
residence  to  celebrate  the  tri- 
umph of  the  Martin  son-in-law. 
I  The  Martin  residence  was  at 
the  edge  of  town,  the  farm 
stretching  backward.  In  that  direction  all 
Pekin  streamed  after  supper  was  over,  and  bv 
seven  o'clock  the  town  was  silent  and  deserted. 
This  argued  nothing  so  far  as  Jack  was  con- 
cerned. Partisanship  in  Pekin  could  never 
have  gone  that  far.  If  the  feather  of  fortune 
had  waved  the  other  way  and  Squire  George 
had  built  the  bonfire,  possibly  the  immediate 
Martin  family  might  not  have  basked  in  its 
light,  but  the  cousins  and  outer  circle  of  rela- 


4i6  JACK    RACER 

tives,  and  all  the  voters  of  the  Martin  ticket, 
would  have  been  just  as  promptly  on  hand. 
The  turn  of  the  tide  in  Jack's  favor  had  been 
immediate.  AsSam  had  intimated, if  Amzi  had 
come  home  on  an  earlier  train,  Jack  would 
have  swept  the  town.  As  it  was,  before  the 
kettles  were  put  on  for  the  early  Pekin  supper, 
the  town  was  in  possession  of  the  facts.  Men 
dropped  in  the  stores  and  stood  on  corners  to 
discuss  them.  Women  made  excuses  to  bor- 
row eggs  and  tea  of  their  neighbors  to  get  a 
word,  and  to  compare  intelligence. 
As  Jack  went  home  to  supper  he  perceived 
that  Pekin  no  longer  averted  its  face.  People 
went  out  of  their  way  to  speak  to  him.  Men 
tried  to  be  jocular,  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 
The  girls  nodded  shyly  but  eagerly,  and  with 
smiles.  The  women  ran  to  the  windows  and 
pushed  aside  the  sweetbriers  and  multiflora. 
Jack  was  amused,  but  presented  the  same  ap- 
pearance of  easy  unconcern. 
He  had  much  coddling  at  home  from  his  Aunt 


PEKIN  CHANGES  ITS  MIND  417 
George.  She  knew  nothing  of  the  Miss  Burke 
episode,  it  not  being  the  custom  of  cither  Squire 
George  or  Jack  to  acquaint  her  with  the  un- 
fragrant  gossip  of  the  place.  But  she  knew 
that  Jack  had  run  behind  his  ticket.  From 
having  a  husband  in  politics,  she  had  long  known 
that  to  run  behind  the  ticket  was  an  unspeak- 
able disgrace.  Squire  George  had  language 
scarcely  strong  enough,  in  her  presence,  to  ex- 
press his  contempt  for  such  a  man.  He  had 
not  so  expressed  himself  to-day,  but  his  reti- 
cence, she  believed,  was  due  to  the  nearness  of 
the  connection.  The  truth  was  that  Squire 
George,  on  reflection,  felt  this  to  be  atoned  for 
by  Jack's  attitude.  He  saw  in  it  a  certain 
heroic  aspect,  although  it  was  prompted  by 
meek  little  Mrs.  Stivers  instead  of  the  hand- 
some Miss  Burke. 

Mrs.  George's  tender  ministrations  were  more 
than  usually  grateful  to  Jack.  The  day  had 
told  on  his  spirits.  The  sense  of  isolation 
which  he  had  felt,  he  seemed  now  to  feel  even 
27 


4i8  JACK    RACER 

more  keenly  that  it  was  past.     After  all,  he 
had  been  acting  a  part.      He  had  cared.      His 
unconcern  was  assumed.      Although  he  knew 
it  would  come  right  in  the  end,  his  philosophy 
had  been  pumped  from  unwilling  depths,  and 
his  constitution  felt  the  strain. 
He  had  no  resentment,  but  his  soul  was  weary. 
The  patter,  patter,  of  his  aunt's  placid  sym- 
pathy fell  on  his  heart  like  honey-dew. 
"  Oh,  Aunt  George,  why  can't  women  learn 
what  they  might  be  to  men  !  " 
He  lifted  his  head  and  looked  into  her  face, 
his  eyes  shining  through  their  mists. 
A  deep,  unsatisfied  thirst  sprang  up  in  his  heart. 
Then  a  blinding  hope  passed  over  him. 
He  sprang  up,  and   laid  his  lips  on  his  aunt's 
brow. 

"  How  sweet  and  good  you  are,"  he  said,  and 
went  out. 

Moved  to  action  by  his  vague  longings,  Jack 
believed  himself  to  be  wandering  aimlessly 
through  the  silent  streets,  now  lighted  only  by 


PEKIN  CHANGES  ITS  MIND  419 
the  stars  set  in  the  deep  blue  of  the  November 
night.  But  these,  as  hunger  and  thirst  to  an 
animal,  guided  him  with  the  directness  of  a 
conscious  purpose. 

Among  the  apple-boughs  still  waving  a  few 
withered  leaves  in  the  soft  breeze,  he  saw  a 
ruddy  glow.  Nearer  it  showed  in  bars  of 
light  through  the  cracks  of  a  fence. 
The  fence  was  high,  but  not  unkind.  Look- 
ing through  its  rifts,  Jack  saw  a  large  copper 
kettle  swung  across  a  pole  from  tree  to  tree. 
Under  the  kettle  was  a  fire  of  chips  and  broken 
boughs,  light  wood  that  leaped  into  flame  and 
with  long  tongues  licked  the  kettle's  sides. 
Before  the  kettle,  like  a  young  priestess,  Lucy 
stood.  She  held  in  her  hand  a  long  stick, 
making  magic  circles  in  the  kettle's  depths. 
Then,  resting  the  stick,  she  fed  the  fire  with 
heaping  hands  from  a  basket  standing  near. 
The  flames  lighted  up  her  face  and  disco\ered 
its  happy,  peaceful  smiles. 
Jack  leaped  the  fence  and  went  towards  her. 


420  JACK    RACER 

She  dropped  her  stick  with  a  little  start,  and 

came  forward. 

"  Ah,  you  are  smiling,  Lucy.    You  are  happy 

—  and  to-day,"  he  exclaimed  in  reproach  which 

his  face  denied. 

'*You  are  smiling  yourself.  Jack." 

He  took  her  hand,  and  they   walked  slowly 

back  to  the  radius  of  the  fire. 

"  Then  you  are  not  assisting  at  the   Martin 

jubilee  ?  " 

"  No,"  she  exclaimed,  indignantly,  with  a  flash 

of  her  blue  eyes. 

Jack  laughed  with  glee. 

"  Oh,  I  'm  a  vain  wretch,"  he  said. 

*■'■  Besides,  I  have  to  finish  the  apple  butter," 

she  added. 

"  Hail  apple  butter,  ambrosia  of  my  days  of 

innocence  !   But  must  you  stir  it  all  the  time  ? " 

questioned  the  young  man,  dragging  up  the 

old  settee. 

"  All  the  time.      This  is  the  anxious  moment. 

You  can  feed  the  fire." 


PEKIN  CHANGES  ITS  MIND  421 
Jack  brought  the  basket  of  chips  in  front  of 
him,  and  began  to  supply  the  fire  with  measured 
hand,  while  the  wand  revolved  in  Lucy's  hand. 
Such  is  the  transforming  effect  of  states  of 
mind  on  any  employment  that  to  Jack  this 
throwing  chips  on  a  fire  seemed  an  occupation 
full  of  idyllic  charm.  Under  its  soothing  in- 
fluence his  worn  and  perturbed  spirit  gathered 
new  strength  and  definite  self-assertion. 
"  I  wish  I  had  four  legs,  like  a  cow."  A  small 
figure  loomed  up  in  the  firelight.  "  Then  I 
would  n't  get  so  tired.  Jack,  sit  over  a  little, 
won't  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  it 's  you,  is  it  ?  "   said  Jack,  severely. 
"■'  Where  have  you  been  ?  " 
Billy  looked  at  him  cautiously  out  of  the  cor- 
ner of  his  eye,  and  answered  with  reluctance  : 
"  Well,  I  've  been  up  to  see  the  bonfire." 
"  I  thought  as  much." 

"  It  was  an  ugly  old  bonfire  anyway.  Jus' 
some  old  ramshackle  barrels,  and  green  w^ood 
and  dirty  boards." 


422  JACK    RACER 

"  I   don't  think  it 's  very  polite  of  you,  after 

enjoying  Squire  Martin's  blaze,  to  talk  about 

it  in  that  way,"  continued  Jack,  with  unabated 

severity. 

"  '  Little  boys,'  that 's  what  Squire  Martin  said, 

'  you  can  jus'  run    round  to   the  barnyard  and 

bring  more  boards  ! '      Well,  I  was  n't  carryin' 

boards  for  Martin's  bonfire,  so  I  jus'  struck  off 

for  home." 

"  Lucy  and  I  have  a  little  bonfire  of  our  own. 

Shall  we  share  it  with  Billy  ?  " 

Lucy  nodded. 

"  That  means  you  can  stir  the  apple  butter," 

said  the  astute  young  man. 

"No,  no  !  "   cried  Lucy. 

"  Oh,  let  me  help,  Lucy  !  "  —  Billy  slipped 

down  from  his  seat.     "  I  'm  not  a  bit  tired." 

"  No,  you  'II  burn  it." 

"  Burn  it !      I  would  n't  burn  it  for  a  party. 

I  've  got  to  eat  a  lot  of  that  apple  butter  this 

winter  and  I  jus'  guess  1  'm  not  going  to  let 

it  burn.      Please,  Lucy." 


PEKIN  CHANGES  ITS  xMIND    423 
"  Please  Lucv,"  pleaded  Jack. 
"  Then,  Lucy,  you  can  set  down  like  a  queen. 
Jack,  do  queens    speak  to   people  ? "      Billy 
asked,  with  sudden  thirst  for  information. 
"  People,  what  people  ?  "  making  way  forLucy, 
still  hesitating,  while  Billy  held  her  stick. 
"  Oh,  people  like  you  and  Lucy." 
"  They  always  speak  to   me.      As  for  Lucy, 
she  speaks  first." 

"  Billy,  you   can't  reach   the  bottom  standing 
on  the  ground,"  said  Lucy,  still  anxious. 
"  I  '11  stand  on  the  bucket." 
"  No.      I  '11  run  and  get  a  soap  box."     She 
ran  quickly  down  the  path  to  the  house. 
"  It  always  takes  two  to  get  a  soap  box,"Jack 
said,  and  followed  her,  a  gleam  of  white  among 
the  shadows.      He  leaned  against  a  tree  inter- 
cepting the    path,  to    watch    her.     She   had 
missed   her  search,  and  with  a  light,  darting 
movement,  came  toward  him,  unawares.   Jack 
opened  his  arms  and  she  was  imprisoned  in 
his  embrace. 


424  JACK    RACER 

"  Ah  !  "  he  exclaimed,  with  a  note  of  triumph 
as  of  joy,  "  You  came  to  me  yourself,  Lucy. 
After  all,  you  came  to  me  yourself.  My  love, 
my  love  !  " 

For  the  moment  she  remained  motionless,  like 
a  bird  imprisoned  in  the  hand,  then  moved  in 
his  arms  as  v^ith  softly  fluttering  wings. 
"  For  months  I  have  circled  about  you,  long- 
ing but  not  daring  to  touch  the  hem  of  your 
garment,"  pressing  her  against  his  breast. 
"  Mine  ?  mine?  "  she  murmured. 
"  Ah,  dear,  you  cannot  think  how  humble  a 
man  feels  in  the  presence  of  adorable  woman- 
hood.    But  you  have  come  to  me  yourself.     I 
hold  you  in  my  arms  at  last,  at  last,  oh,  my 
dear  love !  " 

Still   struggling   to  release   herself,  she   said  : 
"  I  came  to  you  by  chance,  but  it  is  you  who 
detain  me." 
His  arms  fell. 

"  Dear,  I  obey  your  lightest  breath.    But  you 
cannot  leave  me  now.    It  is  not  for  this  I  have 


PEKIN  CHANGES  ITS  MIND    425 

pressed  you  against  my  heart.  I  have  longed 
for  you  so.  You  will  not  leave  me  now,"  he 
entreated. 

She  stood  before  him  with  clasped  hands,  ir- 
resolute. 

"  Is  it  because  you  don't  trust  me  ?    You  have 
believed  what  they  said  ?  " 
"  No,  no.  Jack.    I  knew  you.    It  was  impos- 
sible," she  smiled,  with  half-closed  eyes. 
"  It  was  impossible,  Lucy,  because  I  lovedyou." 
"You  loved  me,  Jack,  then  ?  " 
"  I    cannot   tell   when    I    did    not    love   you. 
But  how  could  I  disturb  your  sweet  serenity  ? 
I  loved  vou  so  I  would  not  trust  you  with  my- 
self.   If  I  could  not  make  you  happy,  I  would 
not  make  you  unhappy." 

She  came  toward  him  now,  and,  taking  his 
arms,  wound  them  about  her. 
"  Jack,  how  little  men  know  women.  We 
would  rather  suffer  near  than  be  happy  afar." 
She  turned  her  sweet  face  up  towards  his  and 
he  covered  it  with  kisses. 


426  JACK    RACER 

"  My  darling,  my  darling  !  If  I  had  been  scal- 
ing the  ramparts  of  heaven  I  could  not  have  had 
a  diviner  impulse  than  when  I  climbed  that 
fence." 

Billy,  who  had  stood  manfully  at  his  post  on 
the  upturned  bucket,  had  realized  the  necessity 
of  feeding  the  waning  fire.  He  had  done  this 
with  his  usual  zeal,  and  the  flames  shot  high. 
"  Oh,  Jack,  the  apple  butter  !  I  forgot !  " 
"  I  love  you  all  the  more,  dear,  for  remember- 
ing the  apple  butter,"  answered  Jack  ecstatic- 
ally, and  with  his  arm  about  her  they  sped 
down  the  path. 

Billy  was  on   his  pail  again,  but  the  wavering 
movement  of  the  stick  was  eloquent    of  his 
tired  arms.      This  he  would  not  admit. 
"  I   ain't  a  bit  tired.      But  you  look  mighty 
funny.      I   wasn't  a  hurryin'  you,"  he   said, 
glancing  at  Jack's  misplaced  arm. 
Jack  threw  his  head  back  and  laughed. 
"  Billy,  Lucy  is  mine  now." 
"  For  never  'n'  never?  " 


PEKIN  CHANGES  ITS  MIND   427 

"  For  good  and  aye." 

"  Why  could  n't  you  have  asked  her  before 
me  ?  " 

"  I  was  afraid  she  would  n't  have  me." 
"  Yes,  she  would,"  he  said  confidently. 
"  How  do  you  know  ?  " 
"  Because  she  always  stuck  up  for  you  so." 
"  What  did  she  say  ?      Tell   me  every  word 
Billy." 

"  She  did  n't  say  anything.  She  jus'  stuck. 
You  always  did  like  our  family  purty  well, 
did  n't  you  ?  " 

"Yes,  Lucy  first,  and  you  next.  We'll  be 
like  brothers  now." 

"No.  Lucy  is  my  cousin.  You'll  be  my 
cousin.  Cousinscangit  purty  thick  —  and  drive 
one  another's  horses,"  added  Billy,  thought- 
fully. 

"  Sure  enough,  and  you  must  have  a  pony,"  re- 
plied Jack,  in  the  generosity  of  his  happiness. 
"  There,  it  is  done,"  said  Lucy.  Together 
thev  swung  the  pot  from  its  moorings. 


428  JACK     RACER 

"  You  owe  no  divided  allegiance  now.   Come." 

Jack  led  her  to  the  settee  and  sat  down  on  the 

upturned  pail  at  her  feet. 

Billy  was  stretched  out  on  the  settee  at  full 

length,  but  he  carefully  got  himself  down. 

"  You  an'  Lucy  can  hoi'  hands  and  I  '11  burn 

up  the  rest  of  the  chips,"  he  said  politely,  and 

with  consideration. 

Jack  took  both  of  her  hands  in  his  and  bent 

over  them. 

"  Will  you  have  to   do  whatever  she  asks  ?  " 

inquired  Billy,  intent  on  piling  up  the  blazing 

chips,  and  without  turning. 

"  Yes,  and  I  expect  you  to  do  it." 

"  Oh,  that 's  nothing.     She  does  n't  ask  much." 

"  There  you  are,  you  limb,"  exclaimed  a  voice 

from  the  kitchen  door.     "You  've  scared  me 

out  of  a  year's  growth.      Oh,  an'  you  're  here 

too,"  Aunt  Kiz  said  to  Jack,  who  rose  from 

his  low  seat. 

"  Yes.    I  could  n't  support  the  thought  of  you 

and  Miss  Dyer  and  Sister  Bergan  dancing  a 


PEKIN  CHANGES  ITS  M'IND    429 

war  dance  around  the  Martin  bonfire  over  my 
discomfiture.  But  Lucy  has  comforted  me." 
"I  only  went  to  take  Billy,  en'  you  know  it. 
But,  Jack,  it  was  as  good  as  a  theayter.  It 
was  your  bonfire  as  much  as  if  you  'd  built  it." 
"  That 's  a  nice  way  out." 
"  In  fac'  it  's  a  good  thing  I  went,  or  I  'd 
never  a  known  what  a  fine  young  man  you 
are.  It  was  as  good  as  readin'  your  obituary. 
Everybody  was  a-talkin'.  Anna  was  there, 
sassin'  right  an'  left,  and  Will  Triplow  started 
up  that  campaign  song  of  his,  an'  the  whole 
crowd  joined  in.  But  I  don'  believe  you  care." 
Jack  was  looking  down  into  Lucy's  eyes. 
"  What  does  it  mean  ?  "  Aunt  Kiz  gazed 
about  her.  "  There  's  somethin'  more  here 
than  kittles  of  apple  butter." 
"  Dear  Aunt  Kiz,"  said  Lucy,  nestling  under 
her  arm. 

Jack  bent  down  and  drew  Lucy  toward  him. 
"She  is  mine  now;  mine  to  protect  and  de- 
fend."     He  closed  his  arms  around  her. 


430  JACK    RACER 

"  Lucy  !  "  she  exclaimed. 

Lucy   did  not   answer,  but  folded  her  hands 

confidently  around  Jack's  arm. 

The  old  woman's  eyes  swam  with  tears. 

"  Yes,"  said  Billy, "  and  I  kept  the  apple  butter 

from  burning  while  Jack  kissed  her." 

Aunt  Kiz  turned,  and   swooping  down  upon 

Billy,  clasped  him  in  her  arms  and  covered  him 

with  caresses. 


THE     END 


lAv) 


A^^*"' 


M 


9A\ 


Q^h 


